Head of OCU monastery in Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complains of restrictions by authorities

Avrahamiy Lotysh, an employee of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve and, at the same time, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery of the OCU, stated that there are significant administrative difficulties in the organization’s activities on the territory of the monastery. According to him, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has not yet transferred any church in the monastery to the OCU in permanent possession, which forces the religious structure to request separate permits to hold services each time.

As Lotysh said in an interview with Pryamyy TV channel, the OCU currently uses churches on the territory of the Upper and Lower Lavra on the basis of hourly rent or one-time permits. In particular, we are talking about the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Warm Church of All the Monks of the Caves. To perform each service, Lotysh is obliged to send an official letter to the National Reserve requesting access.

The “governor” was particularly dissatisfied with the regulations for visiting shrines. Even on the days of the visits of the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, access to the Near Caves is limited to a strict schedule – five days a week from 9:00 to 11:00. In addition, attendance at events in the Lower Lavra is strictly according to lists checked by the police. Lotysh emphasized that such “restrictions do not allow for the full development of the monastery” and create a negative image of the OCU, as pilgrims often blame the church structure itself for the inconvenience, not the administration of the reserve.

Despite the complaints, Abraham Lotysh expressed hope that the situation will improve in the future. He noted that the Ministry of Culture is allegedly committed to close cooperation and assured the officials of appropriate support.

Earlier, Lotysh complained that the OCU was forced to pay rent for staying in the Kyiv Cave Monastery. Lotysh claims that the “OCU monastery” pays about 40 thousand hryvnias per month for the use of the Lavra premises.