Lavra's lawyer speaks of Legal Defence Centre for UOC believers

Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra’s lawyer Archpriest Nikita Chekman. Photo: a video screenshot of the lawyer's Telegram channel

A lawyer of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, said in a message published on his Telegram channel that lawyers of the Legal Defence Centre have held 51 consultations with believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church since 18 January 2024.

According to him, people have actively sought assistance from the Center with a desire to participate in cases to protect their shrines, in particular the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

"People apply from different regions of Ukraine, asking for assistance so that they can participate in the above cases. Such people are provided with relevant drafts of procedural documents with detailed instructions on how, what and where to file. It is very comforting that people have actively started to apply and want to take action to protect their right to practice their faith and to pray in their shrines," he said.

The lawyer also recalled the insulting statements of some people's deputies and the director of the Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" Maksym Ostapenko in the address of UOC believers.

He noted that the hateful rhetoric towards UOC believers by the authorities has not disappeared, but on the contrary – it has increased.

"All this is combined with unlawful actions of the Reserve management, denying people access to the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, to their sanctuaries. People have the right to be outraged, challenging the illegal actions of officials," added Fr. Nikita.

As reported, Maksym Ostapenko stated that the Upper Lavra "got rid of the traces of the 'Pasha Mercedes' monastery," but the OCU still could not "restore its place there".

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