The Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) has decided to form a religious organization in the Pochayiv Lavra (Monastery), which is leased by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Synod of the OCU said on 28 March.
"As part of the Ternopil Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, a religious organization Pochayiv Holy Dormition Monastery of the Ternopil Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church of Ukraine) was established, with Metropolitan Nestor of Ternopil and Kremenets approved as its sacred archimandrite," the statement reads.
The Synod met on 28 March in the residence of the head of the OCU at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral. It was attended by nine members.
The Synod also supported the position of OCU Primate Epifaniy, as set forth in his address to the brethren of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. In particular, they called on the monks of the Lavra to unite in the bosom of the local Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Synod also believes that it is necessary to preserve monastic life and the continuous worshipping in the Lavra. Therefore, it was decided to request premises in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra for monastic life, worship, and other religious activities.
The Pochayiv Lavra was leased to the UOC-MP in 2003. The Pochayiv Lavra includes 18 buildings, six of which are on the balance sheet of the Kremenets Pochayiv State Historical and Architectural Reserve. In February 2023, the head of the Ternopil regional council, Mykhaylo Holovko, announced the first meeting of a working group studying the legality of using the Pochayiv Holy Dormition Lavra by the UOC-MP.