Minister of Culture hints at how the monks can stay in the Lavra

Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko said in a TV marathon that the UOC's presence on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra will not cease after the completion of the revision. However, the UOC monks should decide how they can stay there, hinting at joining the OCU, reports hromadske.ua.

"No one is saying that the life of monks in the Lavra will end after the completion of the revision. But it is an occasion for the monks to decide how they can stay in the Lavra," he said.

When asked by the journalists how the monks can do that, the minister replied, "They know perfectly well about it," adding that on March 11 he spoke to priests who have defected from the UOC to the OCU.

Tkachenko assured that the authorities have prepared for a situation where the UOC would refuse to leave the territory of the Lavra.

"The audit commission includes representatives of both the Security Service of Ukraine and the Interior Ministry," the head of the Ministry of Culture explained.

According to him, the Lavra will remain a place of worship and religious ceremonies.

"But at the same time, we must be convinced that the state controls the preservation of all values and resumes and revives the life of the Upper and Lower Lavra, which, unfortunately, has been neglected for many years," he stressed.

On 10 March 2023, the UOC received a warning from the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" to vacate the buildings of the monastery by 29 March. The conclusions of an interdepartmental working group on the monastery's violation of the terms of the agreement on the use of state property were cited as justification for such a demand.

As previously reported, Tkachenko called the relics of the saints "exhibits" and promised to have them inspected.