Culinary show held in Refectory Church of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

Culinary show by 1+1 in the Refectory Church. Photo: 1plus1.ua

On December 13, the 1+1 channel aired a segment filmed on November 29 in the Refectory Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. 1+1 media producer Akim Halimov, along with chef and restaurateur Yevhen Klopotenko, prepared food directly in the church.

They also discussed the culinary traditions of various regions of Ukraine, the sacred significance of Christmas dishes, intriguing secrets, and regional differences in their preparation.

It is noted that the creators of the special episode aimed to "restore the lost and inspire Ukrainians to fall in love with their heritage again."

“The filming location, the Refectory Church of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, was chosen intentionally. Church records often preserve recipes that are considered lost. Moreover, one of the dishes on the festive table was taken directly from the archives of the national reserve,” commented representatives from 1+1.

Maksym Ostapenko, director of the reserve, believes it is an excellent “opportunity to touch living history. Not just to see an artifact or an object, but to witness how it was made, its context, the techniques used, and, ultimately, what it tastes like.”

However, this information was perceived differently in Orthodox circles.

“Not prayer, but a show… Now in the Refectory Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, there is everything but worship... A church is a place dedicated to prayer, repentance, and spiritual growth, not a venue for gastronomic experiments or entertainment,” wrote the Rivne Diocese on Facebook.

According to the UOC diocese's press service, the situation appears to show disregard for religious traditions and sacred objects.

“Even refectory churches have profound spiritual significance, which cannot be ignored or repurposed for secular needs. Using holy sites in this way is seen as disrespectful to faith and offensive to the feelings of believers,” the statement said.

As the UOJ previously reported, Zelensky held a "military breakfast" in the Refectory Church of the Lavra.

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