The Russian Orthodox Church called the audit in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra a mockery

The audit, which was arranged by the commission in the museum-reserve “Kiev-Pechersk Lavra”, is a mockery of the monks and an attempt to put pressure on them. This was stated by Vakhtang Kipshidze, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate for Relations between the Church, Society and the Media.

The audit began on the territory of the monastery on March 13.

“This revision is not taking place as part of the protection of cultural values, but as part of an attempt to outrage, mock the inhabitants of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, this is quite obvious,” – quoted words of Kipshidze in TASS.

According to him, the employees involved in this revision are indifferent to the value of the holy relics and other shrines of the monastery, since they seek to “humiliate, put pressure on the brethren of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.” To do this, they chose “the most mocking way.”

Kipshidze stressed that what is happening is “unpunished violence against the conscience of believers.”

Earlier it was reported that the crosses on the Refectory Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra began to turn black after the services of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine were held there.

The persecution of the canonical UOC intensified back in November 2022: then a wave of searches against clergy swept across the country, criminal cases were opened against many, among other things they were accused of pro-Russian activities.

In early spring, the clergy of the UOC were ordered to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra until March 29. The reason for the expulsion of the monks was the alleged violation of the lease agreement on their part.

Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church Vladimir Legoyda called what is happening “the apogee of lawlessness”, and Patriarch Kirill turned to Pope Francis and UN Secretary General António Guterres with a request to help resolve the situation.

Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said that the situation is of concern, and the world community must respond to what is happening. The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, compared the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by Kyiv with the activities of the Nazis.