No one will close the Holy Assumption Monastery in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, said the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Epiphanius. At the same time, he stated that the service would be conducted in Ukrainian and Old Church Slavonic..

“In connection with the events related to the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, I consider it necessary to give explanations on a number of issues. First of all, it should be emphasized that in no case we are talking about the closure of this monastery, the cessation of prayer, divine services, monastic life in it,” Epiphanius said in a statement..

The Primate of the OCU emphasized that comparing today's events with the past persecution of the Communists against the Church as a whole and the double closure of the monastery is an unreasonable manipulation. Epiphanius called the statement coming from the lips of the hierarch, who had previously been closely associated with the Communist Party, especially cynical..

The head of the OCU added that for a long time the Church, the Ukrainian state and society tried to encourage the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine to finally stop subordination to the Russian center. The latter is under the control of the Kremlin administration and is used as a weapon of hybrid aggression against Ukraine..

“In response, everyone saw not only an attempt to mislead the state and society by declaring isolation from the Moscow Patriarchate while actually maintaining subordination to it. Both Metropolitan Onufry and the Synod headed by him did not react in any way to the countless facts of the collaboration of their own hierarchs and clergy with the Russian occupiers, to the annexation by Kirill Gundyaev of religious structures located in the temporarily occupied territories. In the spirit of Russian propaganda, they focused on accusations against Ukraine,” Epifaniy added..

He stated that society and the brethren, in particular, are aware of numerous examples of how, under the leadership of the current head of the monastery, the Lavra consistently and consciously turned into a center for propaganda of the ideology of the “Russian world”. It is this ideology that became the foundation and justifies the war of Russia against Ukraine..

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“Once again I call on the brethren of the Lavra to contribute to the process of liberation from the Moscow yoke. We have one Orthodox faith and belong to the one Church of Christ. Moscow spiritual authority in Ukraine is non-canonical, and everyone sees how the Kremlin uses it against the Ukrainian people. The Lavra should not be an instrument of struggle against Ukraine, but on the contrary, a place of prayer, devout monastic life in the spirit of the fathers and ascetics of the past, a place that will spiritually inspire our fellow citizens in these difficult times,” said the primate of the HCU.

At the same time, as a Holy Archimandrite, he testified his respect for the true pious traditions of the life of the Lavra, its liturgical features, for those fathers and brothers who came to this monastery for the sake of feat and the salvation of the soul. To all those who do not share the ideology of the “Russian world” and the distortions that it introduces into church life.

“Opening a monastery as part of the Local Church, our Holy Synod turned to the Government with a request to provide premises for monastic life and worship in the Lavra. This request remains relevant, and we will insist that monastic life, the opportunity for daily prayer and services are properly provided,” added the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Epiphany assured that the assurances that the situation around the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is “temporary” are unfounded. The Primate of the OCU noted that the assertion that the shrine would again be given into the hands of former users does not correspond to the current state of affairs.

“In the same way, for many years, decades, the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate deceived the faithful of Ukraine that allegedly, sometime in the future, Moscow would grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church.. From year to year they assured that the Ecumenical Patriarchate would not grant the Tomos of autocephaly, and if there was such a Tomos, it would not be supported by anyone.. They assured that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine would soon disappear,” Epiphanius added..

In his address, he stated that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is and will be, and we have neither a canonical nor a moral perspective under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate.. The head of the OCU expressed the hope that soon the final ban on Moscow from influencing Ukrainian church life would be confirmed by state law.

“As a Holy Archimandrite, I testify to the brethren that all of you who follow the requirements of the canons and Tomos will reject the lawless power of Moscow, will continue their service in the Lavra. We will use all our capabilities and authority to protect you from intimidation by the current head of the Lavra. The current affairs of the monastery will be managed by those who know the traditions and life of the monastery, who are known to you, because they belong to the brethren, who have the appropriate abilities and have not stained themselves with devotion to the “Russian measure”. The ancient Slavic language, together with the modern Ukrainian language, will be the liturgical language of the Lavra – we know that this issue is also important for many of you,” Epiphanius concluded..

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Recall, on March 10, the leadership of the National Reserve " Later, he noted that the monks would be able to stay in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, but under certain conditions.

In addition, Tkachenko warned representatives of the UOC-MP about criminal liability for the disappearance of any museum exhibits from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, including the relics of saints.

Read more about the situation around the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra in the article by Ekaterina Shchetkina “With cassocks - on the way out! Will the Ukrainian authorities be able to liberate the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra from the UOC-MP? » for ZN. U.A..