Zelensky promised to be baptized in Kiev-Pechersk Lavra if he becomes president - MP

Ukrainian MP Artem Dmytruk said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visiting the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on the eve of the 2019 presidential election, promised to receive the Sacrament of Baptism if he became president of Ukraine. The head of state made this statement during a meeting with one of the monks of the Kyiv Pechersk Monastery of the UOC, Dmytruk noted.

“When he was just a few months away from the election, he came to the Kyiv Cave Monastery, which was later closed, and talked to the monks, to the priests. And Zelensky asked one of the monks with whom they had a heart-to-heart, “Tell me, will I become president?” and the monk told him: “Yes. You will become president.” Zelensky answered him: “If I become president, I will come the next day and get baptized.” Of course, he didn’t get baptized and he never came to the Lavra again, except when he recently desecrated our shrine,” – Dmytruk said.

Dmytruk added that despite his promises, Zelensky, upon assuming the presidency, radically changed his position on the UOC, which ultimately affected the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, whose churches were turned into a territory for holding secular and entertainment events.

“They hold concerts, holidays, and entertainment events in the Refectory Church. What is very significant is that one of the last events, when Zelensky came to the church and in the place where the icons of saints hung, he placed his portraits in order to adore himself, to worship him. For a huge amount of time, people prayed in these places, praised God, and Zelensky came there, hung his portraits, set up tables, poured everyone whiskey… This is a terrible crime against a huge number of people,” – the MP added.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the state would develop a dialogue with all religious organizations except the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The head of state added that Ukraine will develop an ideal model of church-state relations, adding that the time of the UOC is over.