Metropolitan Kliment: Attempts to evict monks from Lavra take place without any legal basis

Metropolitan Kliment said that attempts to evict monks from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra have no legal grounds, because until the courts finally resolve the issue of the legality of the eviction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, «any forceful actions of the authorities on the territory of the monastery are not only immoral, but also illegal». He said this in a comment to tsn.ua.

«I would draw attention to the fact that this (attempts to evict monks from the Lavra, — Ed.) is happening without any legal grounds, — said the bishop. — We are told that the court has satisfied the claim of the Ministry of Culture, but the public is not informed that the lawyers have not been handed the final text of the court ruling, so its decision has not yet entered into force. Secondly, our Lavra is appealing this decision. And until this issue is resolved in the legal field, all forceful actions, especially such brutal ones, which are taking place, are not only immoral, but also illegal. Why officials commit such actions and are not afraid not only of sin, but also of legal and criminal responsibility — this question, I think, will be answered by society in time. Then the whole conspiracy against the Church will be revealed».

The bishop emphasized that the monks have all legal grounds to live in Lavra, some of them have been living there for more than 30 years. He also reminded that now in the Lavra buildings after the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation there are many displaced people who will be left without housing if they are also evicted.

«If we evaluate the actions of the Ministry of Culture and, in particular, the reserve in the legal plane, they lie outside the Constitution of Ukraine and legislation. If we evaluate these actions towards believers, towards monks in the context of morality, then they, these actions, are beyond the concepts of morality. If we, as believers, analyze all the intentions and actions of officials towards the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and compare them with what the Bible says, then for many people it is obvious that there is something demonic in it. Therefore, of course, we put all our hopes in God», — said the Hierarch.