The Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra have been returned to the state from the use of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of the Moscow Patriarchate (MP). Today, on 5 January, the Commission that dealt with the transfer completed its work, the Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko reported on Telegram.
He explained that the commission began its work on 2 January and was engaged in property inventory, as well as drawing up a technical inspection report of the two buildings.
"The work of the Commission provided a comprehensive description of the property of the Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church, the condition of iconostases and icons, and other property to return it to the balance holder. As a result of the commission's work, the relevant Act of return of buildings was signed on the part of the UOC. Although Metropolitan Pavlo, who was supposed to sign the Act, did not come to the last meeting of the commission, this is not an obstacle to returning the state property," the minister said.
The commission included representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, the UOC, the National Preserve Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and a law firm.
In December, the Lavra's abbot Pavlo (Lebid) told his faithful that the lease of two cathedrals of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra of the UOC (MP) is expiring: The Refectory Cathedral of Anthony and Theodosius and the Dormition Cathedral. Later he said that the UOC-MP did not receive a written notice of termination of the lease from 1 January.
The Ministry of Culture recommended not to extend the lease with the UOC (MP). On 7 January, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ in the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Monastery.
The Dormition Cathedral is the main cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The entire Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is state property. During the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, the so-called lower Lavra was leased to the UOC (MP) for an indefinite period.