Dozens of believers gathered in front of the Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, whose monks, accused of ties to Moscow, are subject to evacuation, and Metropolitan Pavel Lebid was interrogated on Saturday, writes AFP, News reports. ro.

With icons in hand, these believers set out for the Pechersk Lavra, a monastery in the capital of Ukraine known for its golden bulbs, which houses an Orthodox church historically linked to Moscow.

The reason: their spiritual leader, Metropolitan Pavlo, was questioned by Ukrainian authorities three days after these monks and he became the subject of an expulsion notice amid the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

In front of the faithful, a small group of pro-Ukrainian activists defiantly waved flags of the national colors – blue and yellow.

According to the SBU, Metropolitan Pavel is suspected of “justifying the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and glorifying its participants,” as well as “violating the equality of citizens on racial, national, and regional grounds.” beliefs (and) religious”.

“The law and the responsibility for its violation are the same for everyone,” stressed the head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, the press release quotes.

“I said, I support Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. I spoke, I speak and I will speak: I condemn all attempts against our state, and what Russia (and Vladimir) Putin did is unjustified,” Metropolitan Pavel told the faithful on Saturday, in a video broadcast by several Ukrainian media.

Then the abbot was brought to the Kyiv court for a hearing. This, however, was postponed to Monday, as Metropolitan Pavlo was not feeling well.

“Putting Metropolitan Pavlo under house arrest on false charges is a natural consequence of the anarchy created by the Ukrainian authorities,” condemned Volodymyr Legoida, head of the media relations department of the Orthodox Church in Moscow, in a statement. .

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.