The Ministry of Culture explained why there are so few representatives of the OCU at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

Maksym Ostapenko, director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, commented on the situation regarding the number of OCU representatives on the monastery grounds. The official attributed the small number of OCU members to the participation of their clergy in combat operations. He spoke about this in an interview with LB Live.

According to data provided by Ostapenko in the interview with LB Live, the total number of OCU representatives at the Lavra, including monks and novices, is about 25 people. At the same time, the director of the reserve emphasized that many potential clergy members have consciously joined the ranks of the Ukrainian army, where they serve as chaplains or take direct part in combat operations.

During the interview, the head of the reserve noted that, in his opinion, were it not for the need to defend the country, these people could have joined the monastic community of the OCU. At the same time, Ostapenko criticized representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), claiming that they are not involved in chaplaincy service and are not subject to mobilization. However, the official did not explain exactly how the mobilization of OCU clergy prevents new novices from entering the Lavra.

As a reminder, we previously reportedthat approximately 140 monks and novices of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church continue to reside on the grounds of the Lower Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, despite the termination of the agreement with the monastery. This was announced by Maksym Ostapenko, head of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, who noted that the issue of the monks’ continued stay must be resolved in court.