Kyiv City Council gives Reserve land under Lavra for use

The Kyiv Council voting in favour of transferring the land under Lavra to the Reserve. Photo: a video screenshot of the website kmr.gov.ua

On 8 February 2024, the Kyiv City Council granted the land plots on which the monastery is located to the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" for use, reports the press service of the Reserve.

The organisation called the decision of the Kyiv City Council "historic", “fateful" and one that "will allow the Lavra to get rid of the presence of the 'Russian world' with its narratives aimed at destroying Ukrainian spirituality and culture".

The press service emphasises that the decision of the Kyiv Council "will allow the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" to take full protection and control of monuments of world significance, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List".

According to the report, the land under the Lavra had not been legislatively formalized for over 30 years, and after the unilateral termination of the lease agreement with the monastery, by the efforts of the authorities "the solution of the land issue has intensified".

"I am very grateful to the deputies for supporting this historic decision," commented Maksym Ostapenko, General Director of the Reserve. “In fact, this is the first step towards the full return of the Ukrainian Lavra to the Ukrainian people".

The Reserve also expressed gratitude to the officials who facilitated the land transfer, in particular the Director of the Cultural Heritage Department of the Ministry of Culture, Maryana Tomin, and the acting Minister of Culture, Rostyslav Karandeev, "for the unwavering position and defence of the state's interests".

Earlier Rostyslav Karandeev said that the Culture Ministry was working on preserving monastic life in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, but it should be under the auspices of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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