Russia urges UN Secretary General to respond to seizure of Near and Far Caves of Kyiv Cave Monastery

Vice President of the Russian branch of the International Committee for the Protection of Human Rights Ivan Melnikov sent an appeal to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in connection with the seizure of the Near and Far Caves of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra by representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. The official reminded that the relics of saints are kept in them and called for the adoption of a resolution condemning the seizure of religious sites. This was reported by AiF.

Melnikov called on the UN to adopt a general resolution calling on the Ukrainian government to release or pardon the detained clergy and parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In his opinion, it is important to emphasize the inadmissibility of seizures of church property, persecution of the UOC clergy and vandalism. The human rights activist also emphasized the need to condemn the attempts of the Ukrainian authorities to seize cultural shrines, such as the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

“Orthodox relics and a UNESCO cultural heritage site on the territory of the Kyiv Cave Monastery are being illegally seized and vandalized,” — Melnikov said.

As reported, Bishop Gideon (Kharon) of Makariv of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who previously headed the Tithe Monastery in Kyiv, which was destroyed by the Ukrainian authorities, said that the brethren of the Kyiv Cave Monastery refused to participate in the so-called “inventory” of holy relics stored in the Lavra caves.