Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra belongs to the Ukrainian people: Natalia Shevchuk comments on recent events regarding the monastery
The government supports the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the cessation of the transfer of the monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in communion with the Moscow Patriarchate for free use: ensuring safety and creating a special fund for the restoration of historical monuments.
Head of the Memorial Fund of Metropolitan Mefodiy supports the decision to halt transfer of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra buildings to the Moscow Patriarchate for free use
The head of the public organization “Memory Foundation of Blessed Metropolitan Mefodiy”, Natalia Shevchuk, supports the government’s decision to stop transferring buildings and structures of the Moscow Patriarchate monastery located within the reserve territory for free use. The Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is a significant national heritage and historical landmark of Ukraine, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and must be under proper state control. The authorities act within the framework of the law and legal field, and there is no question of any “religious persecution.”
At the same time, she also notes that the religious organization, the Moscow Patriarchate, is not the legal and historical owner of the Lavra, and its presence in the reserve was regulated by contractual relations with the state. Due to the violation of the contract terms and the transformation of the monastery into a center for promoting the “Russian world” in the conditions of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the government made a decision to terminate the contractual relations with the Moscow Patriarchate monastery.
Currently, the main task is to inventory the state property of the Lavra, ensure the safety of objects, and preserve the cultural heritage. The state plans to create a special fund for the preservation and restoration of historical landmarks of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and involve international experts to ensure proper preservation of the historical heritage. Thus, the decision to terminate the contractual relations with the Moscow Patriarchate monastery is a step towards ensuring proper protection and preservation of the cultural heritage of Ukraine. It remains to be hoped that all further actions of the state will be aimed at ensuring the safety and preservation of valuable historical landmarks of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.