Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the famous Orthodox monastery in Kyiv, is at the center of a political storm. The Ukrainian government has ordered the monks to vacate the premises by Wednesday following accusations that some of them are too close to Moscow and are Russian fifth columnists. However, despite the deadline passing, the monks have refused to leave, leading to a standoff between church and state.
Eviction deadline passes amid police scrutiny
The government had given the monks until Wednesday to leave, but they failed to do so. Police inspected departing vehicles to ensure that valuable artifacts were not taken. The termination of a 10-year-old agreement on the free use of religious buildings and other state-owned property signed by the monastery is technically the reason for the eviction.
Political tensions behind eviction
The split between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (OCU) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church loyal to Moscow (UOC) is politically charged. Over 1,236 religious communities and monasteries have transitioned from the UOC to the OCU. Most of the clerics from Lavra still do not recognize the OCU, but some have been accused of collaborating with the Russian occupying army.
The culture minister ordered the monks to leave, but they could stay if they transferred their allegiance to the OCU. The spiritual head of the world’s Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, criticized the Moscow Patriarchate for its role in the conflict in Ukraine.
Monks refuse to leave despite eviction order
The main controversy revolves around whether or not some members of Lavra have maintained close ties with Moscow. The Ukrainian government believes that UOC is still dependent on Moscow and terminated a lease that allowed them to stay at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Although given an eviction deadline, the head of the information and educational department of the UOC said they would not leave. Metropolitan Onufriy rejects claims that devotees at KyivPechersk Lavra were in the pay of Moscow, and the OPAC calls for unification talks between the UOC and the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
Struggle for control of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
The Lavra has been called the “pearl of Ukraine” and the “Vatican” of Ukrainian Orthodoxy. People in civilian clothes are helping resident monks remove belongings from Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra before a threatened government eviction on March 29.
The Ukrainian government has been cracking down on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over its historic ties to the Russian Orthodox Church. The government is considering a draft law that would make it impossible to operate in Ukraine religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation.
Ukrainian security agencies claim that some in the Ukrainian church have maintained close ties with Moscow. The government has sanctioned the Lavra’s abbot for alleged pro-Moscow activities and is ordering the Ukrainian Orthodox Church out of the premises entirely.
Mixed reactions to changes at Lavra
The changes at Lavra have received mixed reactions from frequent visitors who were at the complex on Friday. Some were supportive of the government’s actions, while others criticized what they saw as an attack on their faith.
In conclusion, this controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, both culturally and politically. The struggle for control of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is just one example of how those tensions are playing out in real life. As for now, it remains unclear what will happen next with regards to this issue.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
