Kiev, March 14, 2023

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The brotherhood of the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of obeying the | Brotherhood of Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of leaving, says abbot | The Paradise Ukrainian Orthodox Church fully expelled from Kiev Caves Lavra by end of MarchThe Church has been informed that it has until March 29 to leave the Lavra altogether. The Lower Lavra, which the UOC still had access to, is home to the actual caves, the monks’ cells, and the Kiev Theological Seminary and Academy.

“>illegal demand of the Ukrainian state requiring them to leave their holy habitation by the end of the month.

“We don’t intend and we won’t be kicked out, because there are laws now on the side of man. And to threaten us, that they’ll crack down on us—it’s not 1917. Today there’s a world community; there’s a kind of culture,” His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod, the abbot of the holy monastery, said in a video address published by the monastery yesterday.

The territory of the monastery is divided into the Upper and Lower Lavra, both of which are state-owned. The Church was already kicked out of the Upper Lavra at the end of last year, when its lease ended and the state refused to renew it. However, in the case of the Lower Lavra (the location of the actual Caves, the monastic cells, and the theological schools), the state is simply breaking the lease with the Church.

According to the abbot, the brethren aren’t against a legal inspection of the monastery, which is state-owned and leased to the Church, but only against illegal actions and an illegal inspection.

However, the state commission has already shown that it doesn’t intend to carry out an unbiased examination of the territory of the Lower Lavra. | Brotherhood of Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of leaving, says abbot | The Paradise Ukrainian Orthodox Church fully expelled from Kiev Caves Lavra by end of MarchThe Church has been informed that it has until March 29 to leave the Lavra altogether. The Lower Lavra, which the UOC still had access to, is home to the actual caves, the monks’ cells, and the Kiev Theological Seminary and Academy.

“>According to the notice of expulsion sent on March 10, the monastery was to appoint several representatives to participate in the work of the commission. However, the commission, in fact, showed up unannounced yesterday, without the knowledge of the monastery.

“No one presented any documents of who they are,” Met. Pavel said. “Out of the group, we know only one employee of the [Lavra] museum. But they were supposed to let us know before they came, so we could open up the buildings and show them the churches. But there was none of this.”

“We’re not collaborators, we’re citizens of the state,” Met. Pavel said. “We’ve been living here since 1988, and many of us have no other place to go. We’ve given our youth, our life here.”

“And no one will be able to tear us away from the love of God,” the hierarch-abbot affirmed.

Nor can the faithful be torn away from the love of God, as testified to by the | Brotherhood of Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of leaving, says abbot | The Paradise Thousands of Orthodox Ukrainians fill Kiev Caves Lavra as state continues to persecute the monastery (+VIDEOS)The Orthodox faithful of Kiev came out in force on Sunday to worship and show their love and support for holy Orthodoxy.

“>thousands upon thousands of Orthodox faithful who filled the Lavra on Sunday after it became known that the state intends to arbitrarily evict the monks.

“Yesterday’s celebration was a testimony of people of good will, people who remember their history, who live according to the Gospel,” he said, calling on all Orthodox Christians to strengthen their prayers.

In particular, he called on the faithful to read the Psalms of the 9th and 17th kathismas. “The Lord will hear us, because it’s no longer possible to tolerate this. Sanctions have been imposed, citizenship is being taken away, but they won’t be able to do this to the whole of Ukraine, with all the faithful.”

| Brotherhood of Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of leaving, says abbot | The Paradise Minister of Culture calls relics of Kiev Caves “museum exhibits,” threatens Church with criminal responsibilityThe Ministry of Culture informed the brotherhood of the Lavra last week that they have until March 29 to entirely vacate the monastery.

“>Speaking on live TV over the weekend, Minister of Culture Alexander Tkachenko intimated that the Orthodox monks can stay in the Lavra if they leave the Church and join the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”

However, the brotherhood of the Lavra has repeatedly reaffirmed its loyalty to Christ in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as recently as | Brotherhood of Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of leaving, says abbot | The Paradise Kiev Lavra responds to schismatic claims: We’re loyal to the Church and Metropolitan OnuphryDumenko’s statement is part of the heavy state and schismatic propaganda aimed at completely evicting the Orthodox Church from the Lavra in favor of the graceless schismatics.