The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy will recommend that the Lavra nature reserve not renew the agreement with the UOC-MP for the lease of the Holy Assumption Cathedral and the Refectory Church in the Upper Lavra.
This was announced by the head of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, Oleksandr Tkachenko on the air of the telethon "United news", reports Ukrinform.
"The agreement on the lease of the assumption and refectory churches in the upper Lavra is coming to a close. Accordingly, we were contacted by the director of the Lavra Reserve for information on this issue. In compliance with the presidential decree on checking the state of use of the Lavra's property, we will recommend that such an agreement not be extended," the minister said.
Tkachenko noted that until the verification of the use of the upper Lavra property by the newly created interdepartmental government commission is completed, services will not be held on these premises. He stressed that regarding other property there are ongoing transactions that will continue until such an audit is completed.
He noted that the legality of the Lower Lavra use by the UOC-MP will also be verified. The checks' results will determine the monastery complex's future fate.
"In 2013, an indefinite agreement was signed for the use of the Lower Lavra of the UOC-MP. Since there is now a decree and an interdepartmental commission, we will have to check the legality of the church's use of property, and take this into account, make a decision," the minister said.
As reported, from January 1, representatives of the UOC-MP will lose the right to hold services on the territory of the upper Lavra in the Holy Assumption and Refectory Cathedrals. In this regard, the Vicar of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel Lebid, appealed to the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, with a request not to take these churches.