The Ministry of Culture recommends breaking the agreement on the lease of Pochaev Lavra with the UOC

A special commission of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine has recommended that the lease agreement with the Holy Dormition Pochaev Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church be terminated in court. The reason for this decision was an earlier inspection on the territory of the monastery, which, according to the MCIP, revealed violations. This is reported in the report drawn up on the fact of the said inspection, reports the publication “Ukrinform”.

“The Commission found that the user did not comply with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On protection of cultural heritage”, in particular p.1 of Art. 26 regarding the mandatory obtaining of permits for conservation, restoration, museification, repair, adaptation of monuments of national importance. Also the requirements of Article 24 of the Law of Ukraine “On Protection of Cultural Heritage” on the impossibility of changes to monuments were not observed. The user has unauthorized repair, additions, change of structural elements, decoration of the exterior and interior and restoration of monuments without appropriate permits and scientific and design documentation, which led to improper maintenance of monuments and the loss of authentic elements of decoration of monuments, increasing the load on their structures”, – stated in the report.

It is also reported that the commission found an extension of the vestibule to the central entrance to the Assumption Cathedral, a mansard-type extension on the third floor of the monument “Monastery cells”, as well as an extension to the gatehouse complex, which is used as a dining room for pilgrims. In addition, members of the commission recorded the renewal and / or cleaning of wall paintings and icons, the replacement of the panikadil in the Assumption Cathedral, changes in wall paintings and repair work in the galleries and the Cave Church of St. Job and the Church of St. Anthony and Theodosius and other facts of violations.

“The commission’s inspection of the state of conservation of works of iconography revealed the facts of absence of a significant part of the icons recorded by passports of cultural heritage monuments and the inventory list compiled on the basis of passports for works of art during the inventory of iconography and works of art in 1967,” – the MCIP report says.

Thus, based on the results of the inspection, the Ministry of Culture said it recommends breaking the contract with the Holy Dormition Pochaev Monastery of the UOC.

“The MCIP Commission recommended the Kremenetsko-Pochayiv reserve to conduct until December 1 inventory of six objects, which were transferred to the free use of the Holy Assumption Pochaev Lavra, and put the question of termination of the contract in court on the fact of non-fulfillment of the basic requirements for the preservation of monuments of national importance – objects of state property and their territories”, – stated in the message.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that the St. Nicholas Cathedral with a complex of premises taken away from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the city of Kremenets, Ternopil region, is still not used for its intended purpose. The staff of the Kremenets-Pochayiv Historical and Architectural Reserve, together with restorers brought from Lviv, engaged in the “conservation” of icons and other restoration work, actually setting up their own workshop in the church. The sanctuary complained that during the time the church was owned by the UOC, many of its “art objects” had allegedly fallen into bad condition.