The situation around the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra came to a head today – representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture came to the territory of the monastery, accompanied by police armed with machine guns. They break the locks and seal the buildings of the Lavra. Including the residence of the Primate of the UOC. To the parishioners who try to prevent the capture – the police use force. The topic will be continued by Konstantin Isaev.
The defender of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra begins to pray, while four police officers twist him, and despite the protests of believers, they push him into a car and drive him away. Police and representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, one by one, seize the buildings of the Lavra and change the locks on the doors. The servants of the monastery are expelled and forbidden access to the temples and dependencies.
The only thing left for the parishioners is a living barrier and a prayer to somehow prevent the capture of the Lavra. But it seems that this time one of the largest and oldest Orthodox shrines is finally losing its status. The Ukrainian authorities have long wanted to seize the monastery, but for many years they managed to defend it. The Kyiv regime moved into active action in March this year. There were several attempts to seize the Lavra, ultimatums were issued to monks and novices to come under the jurisdiction of the schismatic OCU. The most ancient icons, books and objects of the religious cult of Lavra are described and packaged for export to Western Europe. According to the Russian foreign intelligence service, the valuables will be transferred to museums in Italy, France and Germany. The heist takes place under a fictitious pretense, with the icons meant to save rocket attacks. And now the final capture of the monastery is taking shape.
“Under a far-fetched pretext, armed people broke into the territory of the monastery, began to break down the doors and use violence against believers who peacefully oppose arbitrariness. As this blatant anarchy continues in Lavra, all human rights activists are silent as if nothing had happened. However, no wonder. Apparently the Ukrainian authorities have carte blanche for any violence against their own citizens,” said Volodymyr Legoyda, head of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media.
The Ukrainian authorities cover their actions with the requirements of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, on the territory of which the Orthodox shrine is located.
“The Commission of the National Reserve” Kiev-Pechersk Lavra “for the receipt of state-owned property, today inspected three buildings – these are 70, 69 and 71. We were convinced of their condition, we were convinced that there were no third parties, that they did not use for living or for religious purposes. In fact, now they are sealed and we hope that the State will eventually decide the future of these facilities public, how they will be used, ”said Maxim Ostapenko, acting Director of the national reserve “Kiev-Pechersk Lavra”.
True, this statement says nothing about whether, for example, cellars where ancient sacred relics are stored will be sealed. No court ruling on the Lavra has yet been rendered. Despite this, the illegal seizure of the monastery premises continues. Moreover, the Kiev regime even developed a strategy for the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra until 2051. And judging by the beginning of its implementation, neither the Ukrainian Orthodox Church nor the parishioners found place in this strategy.
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