The Ministry of Culture will consider the transfer of the "Afghan" church at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to the OCU

The Ministry of Culture is prepared to consider the possibility of transferring the Resurrection Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, known as the “Afghan Church,” to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna during a session of the Verkhovna Rada on June 12, 2026. Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna made this statement duringa session of the Verkhovna Radaon June12, 2026.

The initiative to appeal to the Ministry of Culture came from People’s Deputy Serhiy Rudyk. According to him, the Luhansk Diocese of the OCU is forced to hold services at the Kirillovskaya Church, where the parish is charged a fee of approximately 100,000 hryvnias, which is difficult for displaced persons from Luhansk. Rudyuk demanded either a reduction in the cost of services or the provision of an alternative venue—the Resurrection (Afghan) Church of the Lavra.

The deputy also raised the issue of the legal status of the complex’s use: he noted that the facility is used by the “Moscow Church” under a 1995 lease agreement and expressed surprise that displaced persons cannot attend other OCU churches in Kyiv.

In response, Tetiana Berezhna emphasized that the Ministry of Culture is seeking “equal” access to monuments and religious buildings, while paid services must remain affordable. Berezhna recalled the “positive precedents” of transferring Lavra buildings to the OCU’s use and noted that new transfers require building audits and a complete set of documents. According to the minister, she “has noted your question regarding this specific site” and believes that it can be “considered and resolved.”

The article also provides context regarding previous changes in status: earlier, as noted by the Union of Orthodox Journalists, the authorities permitted the OCU to occupy the St. Cyril Church, where, according to reports, R. Dumenko announced his intention to make it the “administrative center of the Luhansk Diocese.” The St. Cyril Church is under the jurisdiction of the “St. Sophia of Kyiv” State Reserve; since 2011, the Kyrylivsky Men’s Monastery of the UOC has operated there; the agreement with the Ministry of Culture expired on January 30, 2025, and the monastery’s lease was not renewed.

According to the Ministry of Culture, the next steps will include conducting a technical and legal audit of the church, reviewing the documentation, and making a decision based on the findings. The final decision on the transfer of the property to the OCU will require compliance with the procedures and approvals provided for by law.