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Kremlin concerned about deteriorating situation around Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

"We believe that the world community should respond accordingly to such an outrageous decision," Dmitry Peskov said

Kiev-Pechersk Lavra EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

© EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

MOSCOW, March 13. /TASS/. The Kremlin is concerned about the worsening situation surrounding the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, deeming Ukraine’s stance toward church representatives unacceptable, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

"It is worrying," the Kremlin spokesman said when asked if the Kiev authorities’ demand that monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) leave the monastery was cause for concern. "This is an absolutely unprecedented stance toward representatives of the church, and toward the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as a whole. We consider it unacceptable," Peskov said.

"We believe that the world community should respond accordingly to such an outrageous decision," the Kremlin spokesman added.

Last week, an eviction notice was posted to the cloister’s website by the acting general director of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Historical and Cultural Reserve, stating that the UOC-affiliated monks of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra must vacate the monastery by March 29 due to the termination of the lease. The notice was printed on the letterhead of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture, which has jurisdiction over the reserve. It stated that the working group that identified the relevant violation of the lease had been established by a decree of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for enforcing a decision of the National Security and Defense Council.

The Lower Lavra, which encompasses the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery and the UOC Metropolitan’s residence, had been at the disposal of the UOC for an indefinite term, under a 2013 decision, whereas the Upper Lavra, encompassing the Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church, falls under the jurisdiction of the Kiev-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve. Until December 31, 2022, the Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church had been leased to the UOC, which conducted services there. On December 31, however, the lease expired and the reserve management refused to renew it. On January 7, the head of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Epiphanius (Dumenko), held a service for the first time in the Dormition Cathedral, where the canonical church had previously held services.

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