Director of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve: We have working relations with UOC

The head of the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" Oleksandr Rudnyk said in an interview with "Glavcom" that there is no special devotion to the UOC in the reserve, everyone maintains normal neighbourly relations and works together.

"There is no special attachment of Oleksandr Mykhailovych (Oleksandr Ovchar) to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC MP). We treat them as users, as neighbours," he said.

Rudnyk also said that the reserve's specialists are constantly monitoring not only the Upper Lavra but also the Lower Lavra, drawing up relevant acts.

"I cannot say that I am 100% dissatisfied with the activities of the monastery or 100% satisfied. It's just like in any area of our life, no matter who you talk to, all the time there is something or someone you can't be satisfied with. There are some shortcomings, we try to eliminate them. While managing the reserve, I tried to build relations with all lessees and users of monasteries, including the Monastery of Theodosius of Pechersk, which is managed by UOC/OCU, it is also one of the objects of our reserve... We have many users and lessees, with whom we constantly need to establish normal working communications," said Rudnyk.

Asked if Rudnick was satisfied or dissatisfied with the way the UOC manages the monasteries, he said that working relations had developed between the reserve and the UOC.

"In the beginning, there was some misunderstanding with them. The attitude was towards me as a temporary leader. But over time they began to respond more normally to comments and even to certain appeals and requests. We built a relatively normal working relationship with them".

As reported, the head of the State Ethnopolitics Committee, Viktor Yelensky, said that the reserve (National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" – Ed.) has revealed serious violations in the temples of the Upper Lavra.