Kiev-Pechersk Lavra’s brethren ask for support in connection with threats of radicals

Brethren and the vicar of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl fear an attack on the shrine by representatives of radical forces. The vicar of the Lavra sent an open letter to the responsible officials of the state with a request to protect the shrine of Orthodoxy from pogroms.

"According to non-official sources, pogroms in the vicinity of the Near and Far Caves are planned for 16.02.2018," says the letter to the President of Ukraine, published on the monastery website. "We ask you to take under your personal control and help to prevent conflicts on the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and the National Kiev-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve. Measures to strengthen permanent protection must be undertaken to end the aggressive and provocative actions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church."

"Lately threats against the Orthodox monasteries and temples have been repeatedly heard, we know about the attacks. Now the main shrine and heritage of the Ukrainian Orthodox people is facing the danger of the defeat," says the site of the monastery. "Radical activists are not going to get into the Caves not to worship and offer prayers at the relics of the Caves’ Saints, but with a desire to mock and abuse the bodies of God's chosen ones."

The letters were also sent to the Prime Minister, the Prosecutor General, the Minister of the Interior, the chairman of the Security Service and the heads of the Metropolitan Police.

The monastic brethren remind that the Kiev Lavra is known to the whole world for its underground caves digged by their inhabitants and sacred imperishable relics of the Holy Fathers of the Caves resting in them. For almost a thousand years, all generations of the Lavra brotherhood have been preserving these shrines. And now Near and Far Caves are still open daily for all believers and people of goodwill.

As reported by the UOJ, in October 2017 the head of the Security Service of Ukraine did not exclude provocations against the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra at the Protection of the Blessed Virgin. At the beginning of this year, on January 8, nationalists from S 14 blocked the entrance to the Lavra Caves.