Russian Orthodox Church comments on seizure of Near and Far Caves of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra by representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine

Vladimir Legoyda, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Synodal Department for Church-Society and Mass Media Relations, commented on the seizure of the Near and Far Caves of the Holy Dormition Kyiv Cave Monastery by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. Legoyda is convinced that the Ukrainian authorities are obsessed with fighting against Orthodoxy, while Western countries turn a blind eye to what is happening in Ukraine, to the violation of the rights of believers. He wrote about this in his Telegram channel.

“These are obsessives who will stop at nothing to try to destroy the Church and mock believers. But faith cannot be defeated, and the history of Christianity has proven this more than once. Western countries usually encourage such actions, giving the atheists carte blanche to destroy the historical Orthodoxy that is united for Russia and Ukraine. At the same time, we hope that there will be responsible politicians there who will no longer want to associate themselves with publishing houses that abuse believers,” – said Volodymyr Legoida.

On the morning of March 28, 2025, representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, accompanied by the police, seized the Near and Far Caves of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, where the imperishable relics of the Kyiv-Pechersk monks rest. The invaders broke down the doors at the entrances to the Caves and installed their own locks.