Head of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra: “We are controlled by lists, but we continue the services”

Despite the actual blocking of access for believers and the presence of representatives from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), monastic life continues in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. According to the Lavra’s abbot, Archimandrite Polycarp (Lynenko), services are held daily: “Despite all the difficulties, we try to preserve the traditions.” He shared this in an interview with the YouTube channel «DNK.»

“We have 170 people on the list, including novices,” said the abbot, adding that part of the brotherhood, about 10-15 monks, left the monastery, but most of them stayed, and life in the Lavra continues.

He also mentioned that an OCU community is now residing on the Lavra grounds, but they do not interact with the UOC brotherhood:

“They live separately, in building 70 and 49, where the office used to be. In all other buildings, we live in our cells, just as we did before.”

The Archimandrite also explained that before Lent, three liturgies were held daily at the Lavra:

“One in the caves, and two were served on the upper territory — at the shrines of St. Sergius and St. Agapit — to ensure that people had access to the church, to communion, and to confession.”

Despite pressure from government authorities, the brotherhood remains in their cells for now. They are allowed to enter and exit the monastery grounds, but under supervision.

“The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has created personal lists of us. I approach, show my pass to the police sitting at the entrance, they check, and based on the list, they ceremoniously let me through,” the abbot explained.

“It’s possible to live, to serve, and to walk around the territory,” added Father Polycarp. “We have light, we have water in the buildings, and even the radiators were warm this winter. So everything is fine on the outside.”

Earlier, we reported that the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security under the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine commented on the takeover of the Near and Far Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra by Ministry of Culture representatives. The organization stated that the so-called revision of the relics of the Kyiv-Pechersk saints, planned by members of a special commission, is an “inventory,” and the UOC never had rights to own the monastery, so any claims from the Church are unfounded.