A clergyman of the OCU expressed dissatisfaction with the holding of secular concerts at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

The holding of secular events on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra has drawn criticism from a representative of the clergy of the OCU. “Archimandrite” Sofroniy Chuprina publicly expressed outrage over the organization of a classical music concert near the walls of the Assumption Cathedral, calling such actions a sign of disrespect for the centuries-old shrine.

The source of his discontent was the “Symphony of the Lavra” concert, held on August 29, 2026, with the personal blessing of the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko. The event, featuring the National Philharmonic’s academic symphony orchestra, was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 975th anniversary of the monastery’s founding and the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

In his post on Facebook , Sofroniy Chupryna emphasized that for nearly a thousand years, the Lavra had remained exclusively a place of prayer, repentance, and spiritual seeking. According to him, using the monastery grounds for secular performances accompanied by applause creates an inappropriate contrast and violates the historical purpose of this holy site.

It is worth noting that this was already the fourth such concert held within the Lavra’s walls. Despite the official status of these events, the question of whether entertainment and cultural events should be held on the grounds of the ancient monastery continues to spark heated debate within the religious community.