The Culture Ministry will recommend the Lavra Reserve not to renew the agreement with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) to lease the Holy Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church in the Upper Lavra, Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko has said on the air of the national telethon, Liga reports.
"Indeed, the agreement on the lease of the Holy Dormition and Refectory Churches in the Upper Lavra expires. Accordingly, the director of the Lavra Reserve contacted us about this issue. Pursuant to the presidential decree to check the use of the Lavra property, we will recommend, because we cannot order, but we will recommend not to extend such an agreement," Tkachenko said.
He said that, according to the presidential decree, an interdepartmental governmental commission was established to study the use of the monastery's property. Until the inspection is completed, the use of the property of the Upper Lavra for worship is "impossible".
"As for the other property, there are relevant agreements that continue, they will be extended until the completion of the inspection," said the minister.
Regarding the property of the Lower Lavra, Tkachenko noted that in 2013 an indefinite agreement was concluded for its use by the UOC-MP.
"But given the fact that there is now a decree and an interdepartmental commission, we will have to check the legality of the use, whether there were any violations, and make appropriate decisions based on this," Tkachenko said.