Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko said that the state cannot transfer its property for long-term use to religious organizations free of charge, according to the laws of Ukraine.
He said this live on the air of the telethon, Espresso reports.
"We cannot now transfer any buildings for free, as it used to be the case, for long-term or for many years. The legislation has changed. Either we will have to change the legislation or make some other decisions based on the results of the work of the Interdepartmental Commission on the use of property that can be transferred to one degree or another for religious organizations," he said.
The Holy Assumption Cathedral (Cathedral of the Assumption of the Theotokos) is the main Cathedral Church of the Holy Assumption Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Previously, priests of the UOC-MP held services there. On December 1, 2022, the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was registered as a monastery within the OCU. Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko noted that the entire territory of the Lavra is state property.
On December 31, the hierarchs of the UOC-MP held their last service in the Refectory Church. Previously, chants about the "awakening" of Russia were heard to be sung there. This case is being investigated by the SBU, and a notice of suspicion was served to one of the priests of the Lavra, who glorified the "Russian World".
On January 5, the Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, Oleksandr Tkachenko, announced the transfer of the Holy Assumption Cathedral and the Refectory Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to the state.
Metropolitan Epifaniy celebrated the divine service on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ on January 7 in the Holy Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.