Metropolitan Pavel, the vicar of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, denied recent accusation that there are illegal constructions on the territory of the monastery and testified about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).
January 10, 2019 – The vicar of Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra[note] Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is an ancient Orthodox monastery that was established in the 11th century.[/note] Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl made an announcement today in a video message posted on the monastery’s Youtube channel. Metropolitan Pavel called untrue a statement voiced by the former director of the National Kiev-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve Sergei Krolevets that 16 buildings were allegedly built illegally on the territory of the Monastery. In addition, he stated that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)[note] Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) is an autonomous Orthodox Church with headquarters in Kiev, Ukraine.
[/note] is being persecuted.
Metropolitan Pavel connects accusations of illegal construction with the desire to transfer the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to the “political church” that is recently formed.
“Today I address all believers of our Church, the ones who are far from the Church, and other confessions both Christian and non-Christian, and others: today they are persecuting us, tomorrow they will start to persecute you, so let’s unite against this unrighteousness and lawlessness, give each other a helping hand, and let’s pray that the Lord would reason with the outrages, put a barrier to the evil, and, maybe, that He would bring fear (to the outrages – editor’s note) like at one time to the Philistines, to Rome and to others who opposed God and the Holy Church,” said metropolitan Pavel.
Video document from the UOJ:
Sources:
Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra’s Youtube Channel – “The brethren do everything to preserve our cultural heritage” – Metropolitan Pavel