In the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate reported that this is the first inventory of the shrines for a 30-year history of the revived monastery. Earlier the UOC-MP expressed concern about the “seizure of the property of the Church.”


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About the beginning inventory of the property of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, which is conducted by the staff of the Ministry of culture of Ukraine , on Wednesday, reports the Ukrainian portal “Strenia” with reference to the servants of the monastery. Information is confirmed “News Ukraine” with reference to monks.

According to sources, the monastery, around 18:00 came to “some officials” who said they have a corresponding order from the Ministry to conduct the inventory. Later it turned out that the inventory was conducted by representatives of the Kyiv cave reserve, which is managed by the Ministry of culture of Ukraine. The inventory was carried out in the Near or antonievich caves — a complex of underground caves in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, where the relics of the Pechersk ascetics.

In a statement on the website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) clarifies that the representatives of the Ministry of culture of Ukraine carry out an inspection of Church property and shrines, which were referred to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, since 1988 — since the opening of the monastery after the revival.

UOC MTS emphasizes that the procedure checks values of the vicar of the monastery Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl Paul discussed with the members of the Commission of the Ministry of culture. The work of the Commission takes place under the supervision of the monks, the guards of the caves and members of the Spiritual Council of the monastery, the report says. This check is performed for the first time in 30 year history of the revived the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Last week, the UOC-MP has warned that the Ministry of culture creates the Commission for seizure of property of the Ukrainian Church. The UOC-MP then expressed his concern that this is to “seize the property of religious communities of the UOC in favor of the dissenters”. The communication stressed that the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) has repeatedly stated publicly that claims to be the main Shrine of the Orthodox people of Kiev — Pechersk and Pochaev Lavra. On Wednesday, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine returned the buildings of the Pochayiv Lavra in the composition Kremenecko-Pochaev reserve.

The events unfold against the background of the decision to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church. The corresponding decision of the Patriarchate of Constantinople adopted the 11 of October. In response, the ROC severed Eucharistic communion with Constantinople and the UOC-MP has refused to join the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church.