The Holy Synod published an Appeal to the faithful children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the people of Ukraine. This was reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC.
“Recently, the entire Orthodox world was stirred up by the news of the groundless deprivation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the right to be in the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine announced their intention to evict the monastic community from the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, which the monks literally raised from the ruins for 35 years since the resumption of the activity of this ancient monastery. Monks, monks, and novices are driven out of their homes, hiding behind far-fetched, non-existent arguments that do not contain any real basis, ”the appeal says.
The members of the Synod noted that “the time of war, which we are now experiencing, unfortunately, has brought to all of us, in addition to external trials, many internal trials. Large-scale pressure on the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is growing, and today we appeal to all of you, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, with a word of living love and a call to firm and unshakable standing in faith, which preaches not discord, but unity, not malice, but reconciliation, not cruelty, but mercy.
“We, faithful to our Ukrainian Orthodox Church, unite in the common goal of preserving Ukraine. And each of us, as a conscientious citizen of our native state, organized to the best of our ability in its defense: our people do all-round volunteer work, give shelter to migrants, disinterestedly and sincerely help everyone they can. Thanks to you, dear brothers and sisters, our Church has done a lot: hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid and significant financial support have found their real necessary purpose. The feat of defending the Motherland at the front, constantly looking into the eyes of death, is carried by thousands of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, among whom, among them, are the parishioners of our Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. What do our powers that be do in return? They despise and ravage shrines, trying to intimidate us, Orthodox, from all sides, persuade us to some kind of “compromise” and, as a result, simply destroy us,” the document says.
The bishops noted that “today, the future fate of our most valuable shrine, the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, is on everyone’s lips. Holy Lavra is the pearl of Ukraine and a spiritual outpost of prayer for the Ukrainian land and people and for the entire Orthodox world. In 1988, the museum gave the monks 15 buildings that were in an extremely terrible state. For 35 years after the restoration of monastic life, the brethren of the monastery not only rebuilt and restored everything around, but increased and beautified the Kiev inheritance of the Mother of God. Here, a lamp of prayer for everyone and everything is lit every minute. ”
“Now many are turning to the hierarchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with a request to bless the spiritual work to protect our legal right and continue to pray in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and take care of it. We sincerely thank you all, dear brothers and sisters, for your unwavering faith in God and love for the Holy Church. No reason can break our firm will to defend Holy Orthodoxy. we must courageously hold on to the truth. St. Mark of Ephesus, a great champion of holy Orthodoxy, teaches: “Never, man, what concerns the Church is not corrected through compromises: there is nothing in between truth and untruth.” We call on everyone to be strong in the faith, intensify their prayers and by all legal means protect our most precious shrine – the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, ”the bishops urged.
