The Assumption Cathedral and The Refectory Church of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra were returned to the state for the use of the UOC-MP. Today, on January 5, the commission that handled the transfer completed its work.
Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko announced it on Telegram, LB.ua reports. He explained that the commission started its work on January 2 and was engaged in an inventory of property and drawing up an act of technical inspection of two buildings.
"The work of the Commission provided a comprehensive inventory of the property of the Holy Assumption Cathedral and refectory church, the condition of iconostases, icons, and other property in order to return it to the balance holder. Following the work of the commission, the relevant Statement on Return of Buildings was signed by the UOC. Despite the fact that Metropolitan Pavlo did not appear at the last meeting of the commission, who was supposed to sign the act, this is not an obstacle to the return of state property," the minister said.
The commission consisted of representatives of the Ministry of culture and information policy, the UOC-MP, the National Reserve "Kyiv Pechersk Lavra" and a law firm.
In December, the Lavra Vicar, Pavlo Lebid, told his faithful that the lease of two cathedrals of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is coming to an end in the UOC-MP: The Refectory Cathedral of Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves and the Holy Assumption Cathedral. Subsequently, he said that the UOC-MP had not received a written notice of termination of the lease from January 1.
The Ministry of Culture recommended not extending the lease with the UOC-MP. On January 7, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All-Ukraine will celebrate the Liturgy on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
The Holy Assumption Cathedral is the main cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The entire Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is state property. During the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, the so-called lower Lavra was indefinitely leased to the UOC-MP.