Religious scholar Ella Bystritskaya: Pochaev Lavra should be returned to “nationally oriented churches”

On March 7, 2023, religious scholar Ella Bystritskaya, in an interview with Suspilne, stated that in order to return the Pochaev Lavra to «nationally oriented churches», the lease agreement must be terminated.

Regarding which confession should serve in it, Bystritskaya noted that here «the criterion should be inter-confessional peace in Ukraine.»

“The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has declared its right to the Lavra and the Greek Catholic Church, and in particular the order of St. Basil the Great, has declared its right to the Lavra. Obviously, we need to get out of the realities of today, I think so. And do not ask the question «either-or». And if we put «and»? The mechanism for solving this problem will not be quick, in my opinion, this issue needs to be resolved very carefully, ”she said.

The religious scholar also stated that the Russian Orthodox Church seized the Pochaev Lavra «by force». Therefore, despite the war, the issue of this Orthodox shrine should be addressed now.

“This does not need to be postponed, since the churches are raising this issue, then it is relevant. And the Moscow Patriarchate should not be there, definitely,” Bystritskaya said.

She added that «there is one» but. The fact is that the Church of the Transfiguration was built on Pochaevskaya Mountain. And this territory is not part of the reserve, and this issue also needs to be addressed.”