OCU representative and Azov Corps leadership discuss spiritual revival of Kyiv Cave Monastery

An official meeting was held at the Kyiv Cave Monastery between Avraham Lotysh, an employee of the Kyiv Cave Monastery National Reserve and, concurrently, the abbot of the Kyiv Cave Monastery of the OCU, and Colonel Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Corps. The parties discussed the current process of «spiritual revival» of the monastery and its integration into the modern Ukrainian context under the auspices of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

According to the Facebook page of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery of the OCU, the meeting took place on May 14, 2026. During the dialogue, Sviatoslav Palamar expressed satisfaction that the main shrine of Ukraine is finally being filled with «sincere prayer for the state.» Abraham Lotysh, for his part, emphasized that spiritual support for Ukrainian defenders is an absolute priority for his organization, noting that petitions for an «invincible army» and the granting of victory are offered daily in Lavra churches.

At the end of the visit, the OCU representative blessed Azov members with icons of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. It is worth noting that the close interaction of the OCU with this unit takes place against the backdrop of its specific internal traditions. In particular, Azov annually hosts the pagan mystery «Day of the Dead,» which includes the rite of burning a wooden boat as a symbol of the departure of fallen soldiers to Valhalla, the realm of the dead in Norse mythology.