OCU representative: UOC monks in Kyiv Cave Monastery will not unite with OCU

Tensions persist in the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, where monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and employees of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Historical and Architectural Reserve, who present themselves as «monks of the OCU,» are forced to coexist. The main disagreements are related to the legal status of the territory and the expectation of court decisions.

According to Tyzhden, one of the representatives of the OCU in the Lavra, Mykhailo Karnaukh, said that physical clashes are avoided due to the constant presence of the police. «Obviously, it is the incentive that keeps people in a certain tone. Because everyone understands that if such a violent conflict is provoked, the state will intervene,» he said.

Karnaukh recalled that verbal clashes took place in 2023, when the Ukrainian Orthodox Church «was legally asked to vacate two churches on the upper territory of the Lavra.» The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve terminated the lease agreement with the Holy Dormition Monastery of the UOC on March 29, 2023. The reasons given were «unauthorized construction and misuse of the premises.»

Today, according to Karnaukh, the situation has «settled down» as the process is in the legal plane. «Court hearings are ongoing on various lawsuits — from the state, from their denomination, and no appeal decision has been made yet. This has been going on for the second year,» he explained, adding that many of the UOC monks are waiting for the decision of the court of appeal to act in accordance with it.

The representative of the OCU also touched upon the issue of the possible accession of the UOC monks to the OCU, calling this issue open but unlikely. «Most of them openly state that they will not do this, even if they have to leave the monastery itself. Some are simply silent. And I don’t know those who would like to join our Church, out of those who are left,» he said, emphasizing the conservatism of monastic communities and the stress associated with changing the rhythm of life.

According to the priest, the UOC brethren in the Lavra are conditionally divided into three camps, among which there are aggressive ones. According to Karnaukh, they are in the minority, and they avoid communication with representatives of the OCU. «When there are certain revivals in the foreign policy arena, the aggressive part of the UOC brethren becomes more active. They immediately realize that somewhere in the north they will have a voice of support, and then they begin to engage in a certain polemic. And as soon as the discussions at the international level stop, they, again, subside,» the source concluded.

As reported, the spokesman for the OCU, Yevstratiy Zoria, claims that the organization is actively raising the issue of resuming regular services in the Kyiv Cave Monastery and ensuring unhindered access of pilgrims to its caves. However, according to Zorya, this step faces obstacles due to the continued influence of the «Russian world» in certain areas.