"It's blasphemy": UOC Chancellor comments on shows and performances in the Refectory Church of the Kyiv Cave Monastery

Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanych), Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, commented on the organization and holding of various shows and performances in the Refectory Church of the Kyiv Cave Monastery, which are held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the Kyiv Cave Monastery National Reserve. The hierarch emphasized that only a person unfamiliar with the monastic life and history of the church can justify concerts and events held in the Refectory Chamber by the fact that monks used to eat there. The Metropolitan’s words were reported by the publication Orthodox Life.

“It hurts us when our churches are taken away. But it is even more painful when churches and cathedrals are used for other purposes. What do we see now in many seized churches and cathedrals? Theatrical performances, performances, movie screenings, political rallies, folk songs and dances, or cooking shows… This has been most clearly demonstrated recently in the Refectory Chamber of the Kyiv Cave Monastery. The chamber is transformed into an assembly hall, the kyotas with holy images are covered with screens, and tables are set up as if in a restaurant. In addition, cooking takes place surrounded by holy faces-not in the kitchen, but in the blessed monastery refectory. Nowadays, people are trying to justify this action: they say that these events correspond to the purpose of the place, because the refectory was created to eat there. Therefore, both the “prayer breakfast” and the preparation of traditional holiday dishes are quite appropriate. But only a superficial, non-church person who does not understand the essence of church rules and customs can speak like this,” — said the Metropolitan.

The hierarch emphasized that at the time when the Upper Lavra was the property of the monastery, monastic dinners held in the Refectory Chamber were held in accordance with the monastery charter. Later, when the church was used by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Refectory Chamber was completely filled with believers who attended services there.

“Yes, refectory chambers in monasteries are designed for eating. But how does this happen? In monasteries, and the Kyiv Cave Monastery is a monastery, food is taken with prayer, and during the meal, the lives of the saints and the works of the patriarchs are usually read aloud so that bodily food is combined with spiritual food. The refectory is painted with the faces of saints, icons and kyotas with holy images. All this was created for prayer, for a reverent spiritual atmosphere. This is especially important when we talk about the Refectory Chamber of the Lavra, because it is connected to the church in honor of Sts. Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves and is part of it, since the church itself often could not accommodate a large number of believers. The Sacrament of Confession was performed in the chamber, and people prepared for Communion there. So why hold secular events in the Refectory Chamber, which is connected to the church? Are there not enough rooms in Kyiv for such purposes? “Prayer breakfasts” with the participation of non-Orthodox Christians, the preparation of folk dishes, which for some reason are called ‘sacred,’ and various political and cultural events could be organized in another, more appropriate place. To call a spade a spade, this is blasphemy. And it can be both deliberate and unconscious, because evil forces are trying to desecrate a holy place through people when they expel prayer from it,” — the bishop added.

Earlier, the National Historical and Architectural Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” commented on the holding of shows and events in the Refectory Church of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The reserve stated that they do not see a problem in organizing any cultural and educational projects in the Refectory Church, as this building “is not a church.”