UOC Holy Synod calls on believers to defend the Lavra by legal means

On March 20, 2023, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church addressed the faithful and clergy regarding the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, reports the UOC Information and Educational Department.

The Synod's statement says: "The entire Orthodox world was shaken by the news of the groundless deprivation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's right to stay at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra."

"Representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine declared their intention to evict the monastic community from the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, which the monks have literally raised from ruins for 35 years since the restoration of the activities of this ancient monastery. Monks and novices are being expelled from their native home under the pretext of invented, non-existent arguments which contain no real ground," the document says.

The Synod noted that the current time of war has unfortunately brought many internal trials for all of us, in addition to external ones. "The pressure on the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is growing on a massive scale, and today we address all of you, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, with a word of living love and a call for a firm and staunch standing in the faith that preaches not discord but unity, not anger but reconciliation, not cruelty but mercy."

The Holy Synod emphasized that the faithful of the UOC are now united by the common goal of preserving Ukraine: "Each of us, as a conscious citizen of our state, has organized ourselves to the best of our abilities to defend it: our people engage in comprehensive volunteer activities, provide shelter to refugees, and selflessly and sincerely help everyone in any way they can."

"Thanks to you, dear brothers and sisters, our Church has done a lot: hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid and significant financial support have found their real and necessary purpose. The feat of defending the Motherland on the front lines, facing death every minute, is carried out by thousands of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, among whom there are also parishioners of our Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra," the UOC highlighted.

In this regard, the Synod asked what the Church receives in return from those in power.

The authorities "trample and ruin the shrines, trying to intimidate us, Orthodox Christians, on all fronts, to persuade us to reach a certain ‘compromise’ and, as a result, simply destroy," the UOC Synod believes.

"Today, the future of our most precious shrine – the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra – is on everyone's lips. The Holy Lavra is Ukraine's gem and a spiritual bastion of prayer for the Ukrainian land and people and for the entire Orthodox world. In 1988, the museum handed over 15 buildings in extremely terrible condition to the monks. For 35 years since the restoration of monastic life, the monastery brethren have not only rebuilt and restored everything around it but also multiplied and adorned Kyiv's abode of the Mother of God. Here, every minute, the lamp of prayer for everyone and everything burns – the entire people of Ukraine live in these meek sighs to God," the statement says.

The Synod noted people’s support, which was particularly manifested on the second Sunday of Lent, the Sunday of the Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kyiv Caves, "when thousands of people came to confess their faith in what is eternal, not ephemeral, what is alive, not dead, in what is real and sincere, not illusory."

"After the Divine Liturgy, people of different views and political beliefs walked together in a cross procession, united by their love for Kyiv Caves Venerable Fathers. They all came out to express their support for the brethren and their civil will."

The UOC Synod also said that "many are turning to the spiritual leadership of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, asking for a blessing to protect our legal right to further pray at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and take care of it."

The hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church thanked the faithful for their "unwavering faith in God and love for the Holy Church" and expressed confidence that "no reason can break our firm will to defend the Holy Orthodoxy."

"We must courageously hold on to the Truth. St. Mark of Ephesus, a great defender of the Holy Orthodoxy, teaches: "Man, nothing concerning the Church is corrected through compromises. There is nothing in between truth and falsehood."

The Sacred Synod of the UOC called on the faithful to "strengthen their faith, intensify their prayers and defend our most precious shrine – the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra – by all legal means."

"May the Lord help us all, through the prayers of the Venerable Fathers of the Kyiv Caves, to remain steadfast in the noble cause of standing firm on the rock of faith, filling it with the fruits of righteousness to the glory and praise of God (see Phlp 1:11). We invoke God's blessings upon all of you!" the statement concludes.

As earlier reported, the UOC Holy Synod of the UOC addressed a statement to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.