The Commercial Court of Kyiv ordered the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UPC MP) to return ownership of the Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, the Ministry of Culture reported, Kyiv Independent writes.

The Russian Church was asked to return items and property from the part of the monastery known as the Lower Lavra.

On August 9, the court also confirmed the government’s decision to terminate the Nizhny Lavra lease agreement with the UOC MP.

Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, an important religious and cultural landmark known for its complex cave systems, is both a monastery and a museum. As a result of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the government took measures to prevent the UOC MP from controlling the Lavra.

The Moscow-linked church had already lost its lease on the site, known as the Upper Lavra, when it expired in January, and the state decided not to renew it.

However, in the church agreement on the use of the Lower Lavra, signed during the tenure of the ousted president Viktor Yanukovych, the expiration date is not defined.

On March 10, the Ministry of Culture obliged the church to completely leave the territory of the Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv.

Although the UOC MP appealed the order, the August 9 court decision upheld the eviction, and the order to restitution of the Lavra’s property put additional pressure on the Moscow branch to hand over control of the site.

Therefore, the Ministry assessed it as fair.

Founded in the 11th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pechersk Lavra, overlooking the Dnipro River, housed the headquarters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate until the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

In May, this denomination announced the severing of ties with the Russian Church, whose patriarch Kirill supported the invasion. But the Ukrainian authorities believe that this Church remains de facto dependent on Russia.

Ignoring the authorities’ order to leave, the monks still refuse to leave. (photo: Jaysi, Dreamstime.com)

Read also:

• The situation with observance of religious freedom in Ukraine – report of the US State Department
• The Moscow Patriarchate refuses to evacuate the Pechersk Lavra from Kyiv
• VIDEO Priests of the Moscow Patriarchate allegedly used fire extinguishers to prevent the funeral of a Ukrainian soldier in Chernivtsi – press
• VIDEO The priest beat the Ukrainian soldier in the church. What annoyed the priest
• VIDEO The abbot of the Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, Metropolitan Pavel, was put under house arrest on charges of inciting religious enmity and supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine
• Romanian priests from Chernivtsi ask the Parliament of Romania to mediate in the conflict between churches in Ukraine
• An Inconvenient Truth: How Romanian Churches in Ukraine Remained Faithful to the Russian Church

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