Law Department: The UOC has every reason to serve in the Upper Lavra in 2023

Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: lavra.ua

The Legal Department of the UOC commented on the situation around the Upper Lavra cathedrals and stated that the actions of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve and the Ministry of Culture are illegal, law.church.ua reports.

“In a letter dated December 27, 2022, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve announced that the agreement on the use of the Assumption Cathedral and the Refectory Church of the Lavra ends on December 31, 2022 and cannot be extended. Substantiating its decision, the Reserve referred to the fact that the Ministry of Culture opposed the extension of this agreement, and personal sanctions were applied to the hierarchs of the UOC by the Decree of the President. We emphasize that such actions on the part of the Reserve are illegal,” the Law Department of the UOC noted.

Even if the validity period of the contracts has ended, it is automatically extended for the period of martial law and within four months after its expiration, the department added.

“In addition, if the Reserve had the intention not to extend the contracts, they had to notify about it 30 days before the end date of the contracts, which was not done,” the message noted.

“If the Ministry of Culture and the Reserve think otherwise, they can prove their case in court, but until then, the use of the Assumption Cathedral and the Refectory Church of the Lavra is lawful and legal. Any actions that prevent this use are illegal, create enmity on religious grounds and violate the rights of parishioners and brethren of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra of the UOC,” summed up the Legal Department of the UOC.

As the UOJ previously reported, the last service of the UOC will be held in the Refectory Church of the Lavra.

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