As reported, the OCU lobbyist in the media, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of the Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Lyudmila Filipovich explained the reason for the seizure of the Near and Far Caves of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra by representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. According to Filipovich, the need for the audit arose because of “rumors” that shrines were disappearing from the monastery, and the representatives of the Ministry of Culture had to break the locks because the UOC monks allegedly did not open the doors to the caves.
The Ministry of Culture's commission claims that it “treats with respect” the relics of the Kyiv Cave saints
An unnamed representative of a special commission of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, which is conducting a “study” of the imperishable relics of the Kyiv Caves saints, tried to justify what is happening to the shrines. According to a member of the commission, employees of the Ministry of Culture “behave respectfully” towards the relics of the saints and categorically disagree with the fact that they are compared to the Bolsheviks. This was reported by the media.
It is noted that the process of “examination” of the relics of the Kyiv-Pechersk saints is “prayerfully” accompanied by the chaplain of the OCU, who, however, was not officially included in the commission. In addition, as it became known, experts have already conducted a “study” of the relics of St. Isaac of the Caves. However, the work of the commission continues.
«We, of course, see all the openly biased overtones and manipulations on which the criticism of our commission’s work is based. All comparisons with what the Bolsheviks did are nothing more than propaganda and a primitive play on the feelings of ignorant believers. The commission did not and does not aim to “verify the sanctity” of the relics or, moreover, to neglect them. Everyone is well aware that relics are a unique national spiritual and historical heritage and a shrine for millions of believers. Therefore, the state must examine and understand for itself what of these shrines was transferred for veneration by the Church in the 1980s, what is there now and in what condition. Members of the commission take descriptions of what the relics looked like in 1926, then compare them with the last inspection in the eighties. We also need to examine the air and humidity in the caves to find out if antifungal measures are needed to preserve them,» — said a representative of the Ministry of Culture.
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