The deputy abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra commented on the damage to the Assumption Cathedral

Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), the Vicar of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, issued a statement following reports of damage to the Cathedral of the Dormition. He called the incident a “great tragedy” for Orthodox believers and linked the situation not only to the physical destruction of the church but also to the spiritual crisis surrounding the shrine.

Metropolitan Pavel’s statement was published on June 15, 2026. In it, the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church declared that the destruction of churches in any local Church is a tragedy for the entire body of Universal Orthodoxy.

According to the metropolitan, behind such events lies not only the human factor but also, as he put it, “the work of the devil.” He emphasized that the church, restored in 2000, is going through a difficult period due to shelling and, in his assessment, an inappropriate attitude toward the holy site.

In his address, the Lavra’s abbot also stated that activities incompatible with the prayerful purpose of the church space are taking place in the monastery’s churches. In particular, he mentioned the filming of music videos, dancing, and the presence of outsiders in the sanctuary, describing the situation as one of “emptiness, abomination, and desolation.”

Separately, Metropolitan Pavel linked the current situation to the position of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to him, the reason for the pressure on the UOC is its desire to preserve unity with the fullness of the Universal Orthodox Church and to follow church canons.

In conclusion, the hierarch called on the brethren of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to remain steadfast, continue praying, and not succumb to pressure. He also called for forgiveness toward those who, in his words, have lost their spiritual bearings.

As a reminder, earlier, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, the lawyer for the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, reported the seizure of yet another church on the monastery grounds. According to the human rights activist, on the morning of June 11, 2026, representatives of the “nature reserve” cut off the locks and broke into the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Far Caves, also known as the Academic Church.