Abp Pimen: We believe and are absolutely certain Lavra gate will open again

Archbishop Pimen of Rivne and Ostroh. Photo: UOJ

Archbishop Pimen of Rivne and Ostroh expressed confidence that the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra will once again open its doors to the faithful. He said this during a sermon after a prayer service held at the entrance to the monastery.

"Today, kneeling before the closed gates of this shrine, where the spirituality of each of us began, developed or was established, we fervently pray with you to the Most Holy Virgin and ask Her, through the intercession of all the holy reverends, to open the earthly gates of Her abode," the bishop said. "May the saints continue to welcome people as they did after the godless Soviet times, and may the venerable fathers hear the prayers of those who seek to come to them."

According to the bishop, the praying individuals were accompanied by the Savior Himself and the holy servants of God.

"I think that today the Lord is here among us, and all the saints of the Caves, who with their relics rest in the caves, have come out today in spirit here and are among us. More than 160 ascetics of God today with us offered prayers and praise to the King of Glory and His Blessed Mother," the Archbishop emphasised.

"We believe and are absolutely certain that the gates of the Lavra will open again, and people will be able to come for prayer, and the gates of paradise will be opened to all believers because the Lord promised that everyone who endures to the end will be saved, will have a part with saints Anthony and Theodosius, St Theodore, Prince of Ostroh, and the holy fathers who upheld the faith on Ukrainian soil, who did not allow the Orthodox faith to perish during the Uniate claims and other difficult times," said the bishop.

He noted that among the clergy who prayed at the Lavra was the father of the defender of Ukraine, "who suffered greatly, but, thank God, survived", as well as the rector of the church in Bortnychi, which was taken away by the raiders, Fr. Alexy Hodun, a participant in many humanitarian missions to rescue wounded soldiers and deliver aid to the frontline zone.

As reported, along with Archbishop Pimen, a group of the clergy from the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC and members of the regional branch of the Public Union “Myriany” ("Laity") arrived for the prayer standing at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

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