Ukrainian Orthodox Church Holds Liturgy and Services at the Kiev Lavra Caves as Eviction of the UOC from the Orthodox Holy Site Looms.
Ukraine has terminated the lease the canonical UOC has for the Lavra Caves, with January 1st, 2023 set as the last date of the UOC lease. The UOC spent the last day of their lease conducting liturgy.
His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernoby announced in late December that the Ukraine government chose to terminate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s lease for the Lavra Caves, which has remained in the care of the UOC since 1988:
His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel released a video requesting that Ukraine reverse the decision to evict the UOC monks, clergy, nuns, and the faithful from the Orthodox Holy Site:
Despite the pending eviction, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held liturgical services on January 1, 2023 (Gregorian date):
Orthodox Christians sang “Christ is Risen:”
The UOC published pictures of the services on their website:
Conversely, members and clergy of the schismatic Orthodox Church in Ukraine spent January 1st, 2023 honoring Stepan Bandera (whose birthdate was January 1st):
The Ukranian Parliament likewise shared in the celebration of Banderas birthday:
Let God arise,
Let His enemies be scattered;
Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.As smoke is driven away,
So drive them away;
As wax melts before the fire,
So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.But let the righteous be glad;
Let them rejoice before God;
Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly!
Psalm 68:1-3