By KYIV. Dec 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Metropolitan Pavlo (Lebed), the Vicegerent of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, appealed to President Volodymyr Zelensky with a request not to take away two churches on the territory of the Lavra from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
The appeal was published on the official website of the Lavra.
"Today we were told the sad news that the monastery of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Moscow Patriarchate) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church no longer has the opportunity to serve in its rebuilt churches of the upper territory, the Assumption Cathedral and the Refectory Church," the Lavra’s abbot said.
As the metropolitan said, the director of the museum [director of the state-owned reserve ‘Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra’] informed us that we can serve the last time on December 31, on the eve of the new year, and the very next day, January 1, we do not have the right to cross threshold of the Refectory and Assumption Cathedrals. We have not received written permission for this," although we should have received it a month in advance, since we have a long-term lease.
According to the metropolitan, he "has been the governor of the Lavra for more than 30 years" and, together with a brethren of 220 people, "constantly pray for the state and the army and try to help all those in need."
According to him, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) rented the mentioned churches and held services there, which were always attended by a lot of believers. Temple rentals expire December 31.
Lebed said he had contacted Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko about the situation, but received no response.
As reported, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine in December imposed sanctions against a number of hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), including Viceroy of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Pavlo (Lebed).
