Minister of Culture comments on situation with the lease of Lavra temples

On December 27, 2022, Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko said in the programme TSN that the Ministry of Culture supported the decision to terminate the lease agreement between the state and the UOC on the lease of the Assumption and Refectory temples of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

"We, in pursuance of a presidential decree to check the status of the use of the Lavra’s property, will recommend (because we cannot order) not to extend such an agreement," said the official, commenting on the appeal to the President of Ukraine of the Lavra’s abbot, Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl.

Tkachenko said that an interdepartmental government commission on the use of the Lavra's property had been established and, until it completes its work, no new lease agreements will be concluded. "The current agreements will remain in force until the inspection is completed," the minister confirmed.

He also explained that in 2013 an indefinite agreement was concluded for the use of the Lower Lavra by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. "But given that there is now a decree (of the President – Ed.) and an interdepartmental commission, we will have to check the legality of the use, whether there have been any violations, and, taking this into account, already make appropriate decisions," Tkachenko stressed, adding that the task of the Ministry of Culture is "to preserve and legally use the Lower Lavra’s property for its intended purpose." "This is something we will deal with in the near future," the official resumed.

As reported, Metropolitan Pavel asked the Ukrainian President to leave the temples of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra with the UOC.