Reserve about the rock concert in Lavra’s temple: They eat, not pray there

Kostiantyn Krainiy, the deputy director of the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra", dismissed the concerns of believers about the controversial concert in the Refectory Church of Saints Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves, calling it "hysteria". In his opinion, the refectory chamber, where the event took place, is not part of the church.

"This is a place where monks ate, not prayed. That is, there is a chamber, and next to it – a church. They are separated by a door," said Krainiy in a comment to tsn.ua. "Anyone who knows a little about history and art can see that this is not a church. It's a chamber where monks once held their meetings."

According to the representative of the reserve, it was not a rock concert but a performance by the People's Artist of Ukraine, Taras Kompanychenko, "using ancient and modern instruments."

"On Unity Day, he held a charity concert [...]. He sang songs that fighters go into battle with now, sang about the current war. If someone felt uncomfortable, these are the same people who justified singing about 'Mother Russia'," the official said.

He also added that the concert featured "ordinary Ukrainian carols".

"There is nothing subversive or criminal about it. This event was initiated by the reserve. Some people deliberately escalate hysteria," the official believes.

Journalists note that the number of comments on Facebook under the video fragment of the concert is increasing.

"Oh God, forgive us sinners! Lost for words. And we want to live well doing that," wrote one of the social media users.

"There is no other place to sing," protests another commentator.

"Oh God, I want to scream from the pain of what is happening. Lord, forgive," writes a believer.

"In the Refectory Church, where the concert took place, services were held. In this part of the church people confessed. And when the temple was full of people, this part was always filled. The temple is a house of prayer, and there should be silence, peace, it is a place of solitude and conversation with God. It is very painful to see what is happening there now. Do we not have enough areas where one can organize discos? The temple is God's house," emphasized the comment under the video.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which twice held "services" in the Upper Lavra in January, refused to comment on the concert in the church.

As reported by the UOJ, a video of the concert was posted on Facebook by human rights activist Viktoria Kokhanovska. Facebook deleted the publication, which had already garnered 58 thousand views, and Kokhanovska re-uploaded the video.