Pochaiv Lavra responds to media lies about "contract breach"

The press service of the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra has refuted recent claims spread by some Ukrainian media outlets alleging that numerous violations were discovered at the monastery following an inspection by the Ministry of Culture. Archimandrite Gabriel, the secretary of the Lavra, addressed the issue of the so-called "illegality of ongoing repairs and restorations at the monastery".

The priest pointed out that, according to the terms of the architectural monument lease agreement signed between the state and the monastery, no construction on "immovable cultural heritage sites" was undertaken. He also emphasized that the agreement does not require permission for routine maintenance work.

"The agreement stipulates the user's obligation to ensure the preservation of the property and to carry out its routine maintenance. Obtaining permission from the cultural heritage authority to perform routine maintenance work is not required by the agreement," the press service stated.

The monastery also addressed media speculation regarding allegedly illegal restoration work in the gallery of the "cave" Church of St. Job of Pochaiv.

Archimandrite Gabriel explained that the frescoes were renewed because they had been in poor condition since the Soviet period.

"It is important to note that until 1985 (after moisture penetrated through the gallery roof, which serves as the roof of Sts Anthony and Theodosius’s Church and the gallery leading to St Job’s Church), the plaster and wall paintings were damaged and subsequently fully restored, with new frescoes applied to new plaster (photo documentation of the renewed plaster and frescoes from 1985 in Sts Anthony and Theodosius’s Church is attached). Accordingly, any work related to routine plaster maintenance and fresco renewal is carried out without the need for scientific project documentation for restoration," the statement said.

The Lavra's press service reiterated that the materials published by the media are false and reflect a biased attitude towards the monastery.

As reported by the UOJ, the Pochaiv Lavra stated that the media is spreading falsehoods about the results of the Ministry of Culture's inspection.