The governor of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra promised Zelensky that “nothing will come of it”

The Rada cannot find the votes to ban the UOC

The transition of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra to the full control of the Ukrainian state, planned for the next Independence Day on August 24, never happened. The Kyiv security forces did not dare to “cross the line.” That is, it is trivial to disperse the numerous believers who gather daily on the territory of the monastery.

Even the head of world Catholicism, 86-year-old Pope Francis, defended the right of everyone to profess the Orthodox faith, guaranteed by the Constitution of Ukraine. At this time, the media controlled by Zelensky are branding with shame the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada who do not want to vote for a complete ban on the activities of the UOC on the territory of the republic. Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk made it clear last week: there are still not enough votes in favor of expelling the “Moscow priests” in the Rada, so “explanatory work” should be patiently carried out with the people’s representatives.

The Security Service of Ukraine, meanwhile, continues its work to seize churches belonging to the UOC. The latest of their “achievements” is the seizure of the temple in honor of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in the village of Staraya Zhadova, Chernivtsi-Bukovina diocese of the UOC.

Young people in camouflage uniforms and balaclavas brought to the church acted under the cover of local police. “Titushki” were apparently recruited in the neighboring Ivano-Frankivsk region. The date of the capture of the village church was deliberately adjusted to the days after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Lord in the village where the current head of the UOC, Metropolitan Onuphry, grew up.

The abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel, meanwhile, recently visited the Lavra. The well-known defender of Russian Orthodoxy, Victoria Kokhanovskaya, posted a short video with the participation of the Bishop, who has been under house arrest for several months. However, he found an opportunity to visit the monastery and meet some of the parishioners of its churches. Despite his health problems, Bishop Pavel exuded optimism, promising believers who complained about the authorities that “they (government officials) have nothing Auto.) will not work, and the Church will certainly resist the next onslaught of the wicked.”