The clergy and monks of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra will not comply with the demand of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Reserve to vacate building No. 34, because it is illegal. This was stated by the Viceroy of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl Pavel (Lebed) in his video message.
Pavel stated that the requirements of acting. the director of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Reserve and the Minister of Culture to leave the territory of the Lavra are illegitimate, because in the late 80s the territory of the Lavra was transferred to the UOC by decision of the central authorities.
“Without any decree, without any instructions, the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was closed. The contracts were unilaterally terminated by the Minister of Culture and the Director of the Reserve. Although we received permission, an invitation to move into [основании] decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Supreme Council of that time – the higher authorities”, the viceroy argued.
Pavel said that the directorate of the reserve demanded that the leadership of the Lavra vacate building No. 34, but they would not comply with this requirement, because it was illegal.
“After 35 years, misfortune and grief again comprehend the holy monastery. Crazy tormentors crazy command”, – this is how the governor described the situation.
“Today I received an order again that we should move out of the 34th building, which we rebuilt from the ruins. Today I replied that this will not happen. And not only from the 34th, [но] and from other buildings, because there is no indication of breaking contracts [со стороны] Cabinet of Ministers, no instructions from the President. And who is the director of the museum and the minister of culture? The same simple people like us. They must fulfill the law of the state and have at least a little fear of God. There is no judgment!” – emphasized the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl Pavel.
The situation around the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra began to escalate in March, when acting. Director of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Reserve Alexander Rudnik declared the lease agreement terminated and demanded that the Orthodox brethren leave the territory of the monastery until March 29, 2023. At the same time, there are big doubts about the legality of this requirement, because the reserve now does not have a full-fledged leadership, Rudnik himself holds his position in the status of acting.
In addition, the Orthodox brethren of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra argue that they entered into a lease agreement in 2013 for a period of 50 years, so they are in the Lavra legally.
