Ukraine Plans to Evict UOC Monks from Lavra Caves: Ukrainians Gathered in Prayer Outside of the Lavra Caves as Met. Pavel Vows that the Monks “Will Defend Our Shrines to the Last.”
President Zelensky Cheers the Eviction as “Strengthening Ukrainian Spiritual Independence”
The Ukrainian government announced plans to evict Ukrainian Orthodox Church monks from the Lavra Caves by the end of March 2023.
There are around 200 UOC monks in the lower levels of the Lavra Caves. The Lavra Caves is a Christian Holy Site. Within Orthodoxy, The Theotokos is said to live in the Lavra Caves. Additionally, Kiev/Kyiv is one of the four domains of The Theotokos.
In response to the proposed eviction of the UOC monks, Zelensky characterized the removal of the UOC monks as “strengthening Ukrainian spiritual independence.”
Met. Pavel of the Lavra Caves announced that the monks would “defend our shrines to the last,” while Orthodox Christians in Ukraine gathered around the Lavra Caves to pray:
Met. Pavel vows that UOC monks will defend the shrines to the last:
Ukraine’s persecution of the UOC is hardly new, with Ukraine’s SBU raiding and searching UOC parishes, temples, and clergy throughout the last year. Zelensky announced plans to ban the UOC in Ukraine three months ago:
UOC Met. Luke of Zaporozhye responded to Ukraine’s plans to remove UOC monks from the Lavra Caves by mentioning the disastrous The Kurenivka mudslide in 1961. The mudslide occurred three days after the USSR announced the closure of the Lavra Caves.
Spiritual War
On March 12, 2023, faithful Ukrainian Christians gathered outside of the Lavra Caves for liturgy and prayer:
And on March 13, 2023, UOC Met. Pavel confirmed that crosses at the Refectory Church at the Lavra Caves were turning black, while a “substance resembling myrrh appeared on the crucifix placed at the grave of Met. Volodymyr:”
The UOC monks at the Lavra Caves released a video statement, begging the Ukraine government and President Zelensky to stop the persecution of the Church. The monks stated they are not afraid and will protect their shrines:
Monks from the Lavra Caves attempted to meet with Zelensky’s office on March 20, 2023 and were turned away:
Met. Luke reported that the monks who attempted to meet with state authorities at Zelensky’s office were spit on and insulted by fellow Ukrainians:
An Abbess from the UOC Odessa Diocese condemned the unconstitutional persecution of the UOC and called upon believers to protect the Church and the laurels from sacrilege:
"The authorities do not have the authority to interfere with religious or church life or give preferences to some denominations, and despise others. This is a violation of the constitution and the rights of millions of Ukrainian believers.
"Opening a religious war in the midst of sorrow among one's fellow citizens is unacceptable and criminal phenomenon. This indulges the enemy's propaganda, and weakens the city of the people and defense capacity.
Dear compatriots: let's protect our homeland, protect the holy church, protect the laurel, and prevent sacrilege against it. Because this can invite the wrath of God."
And on March 21, 2023, the Kyiv Theological Academy at the Lavra Caves released a plea for the authorities to stop the eviction:
Ukrainian Christians continue to pray at and outside the Lavra Caves:
The Kyiv Theological Academy continues to host services and processions:
A priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was allegedly stopped by armed soldiers and/or law enforcement because a priest or Abbott released a video statement condemning the eviction of monks from the Lavra Caves:
UOC Met. Pavel released a statement on March 22, 2023, calling upon people to pray and witness the godlessness of the treatment of the UOC and the eviction of monks from the Lavra Caves:
The abbess and sisters of the famous American Transfiguration Convent in Ellwood City (Pennsylvania), which is under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church in America, came to the defense of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the students of Kyiv theological schools:
A message from Father Josiah Trenham (of PatristicFaith.org) on the Persecution in Ukraine:
The Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary released a statement on March 24, 2023:
Statements from ROCOR clergy and bishops have condemned the persecution of the UOC and called upon all the faithful to pray for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters:
Church Seizures
Radical groups and schismatics have attacked UOC parishes with the intent to capture the churches forcibly.
Armed police invaded a UOC parish in Babin village on March 22, 2023:
At the beginning of February 2023, radicals attempted to seize the UOC Church of the Intercession in Strelsk, Ukraine:
The persecution is not new. Members of Right Sector violently disrupted a UOC in July 2021:
There have been claims that SBU has detained and tortured Orthodox monks for years, exchanging the detained monks and clergy for captured Ukrainian soldiers:
Metropolitan Morphou warned about the spiritual causes of the war in Ukraine, stating that God is allowing war due to mankind embracing enmity and sexual immorality:
-IC XC NIKA