Law Dept: Refusal to extend the lease of Upper Lavra will be appealed in court

Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: news.church.ua

Acting head of the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" Oleksandr Rudnyk sent an official letter to Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed) about the non-prolongation of the contract for holding services in the Assumption Cathedral and in the Refectory Church with the Refectory Chamber of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

The letter says that the contract is not extended based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, and is also guided by the Decree of the President of December 1, 2022 on the "Decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine ‘On certain aspects of the activities of religious organizations in Ukraine and the application of special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)’."

According to the letter, the services are to be completed by December 31, 21:00. After that, an ad hoc commission will work in the temples to deal with the acceptance and transfer of state property.

The head of the Legal Department of the UOC, Archpriest Alexander Bakhov, said that the unwillingness of the authorities to extend the lease of the Lavra is based on personal convictions, as well as personal sanctions.

“How can personal sanctions affect Lavra’s life?” wonders Archpriest Alexander.

“We will dispute this issue legally. We will use judicial protection and, if possible, hold services where possible,” said the head of the Legal Department of the UOC during a press conference “Results of the UOC’s activities in 2022”, which was held on December 29 in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

As reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and the brethren of the monastery addressed the Ukrainian authorities with an open letter regarding "the recent intensified violations of the rights of the monastery and its parishioners."

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