Bulgarian Church hierarch condemns Ukrainian Ministry of Culture's desecration of relics of Kyiv Caves monks

The hierarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovchany, criticized the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture for the actual desecration of the relics of the Kyiv Cave Monks, which are kept in the Holy Dormition Kyiv Cave Monastery. In addition, the bishop expressed support for Metropolitan Theodosius, the head of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC. This is reported by the ROC DECR Communication Service.

It is reported that on April 4, 2025, a conference of the local clergy was held in the city of Troyan, which resulted in the adoption of a communiqué. In particular, it expressed deep regret over the barbaric seizure of the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC. The participants of the conference, led by Metropolitan Gabriel, called for the prosecution of all those involved in this situation.

In addition, the situation around the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was also mentioned. The communiqué condemns the interference of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine in the life of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery of the UOC and the actual desecration of the relics of the Kyiv-Pechersk monks, which takes place under the guise of “expertise.”

Earlier, we reported that the monks of Holy Mount Athos issued a public statement in which they strongly condemned the actions of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, which is conducting an “examination” of the relics of the monks in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.