The standing of the clergy and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in defense of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra has been going on for almost a week. During this time, we have been able to experience many dramatic and inspiring events. Nevertheless, behind the whole mass of emotions and experiences, one most important detail slips away – whether we like it or not, however, from a legal point of view, the UOC is in a state of protest. This protest, taking place in various forms and places, was caused in connection with the violation of the basic human rights to freedom of religion, which are unambiguously spelled out in the main law of the country – the Constitution of Ukraine.
Undoubtedly, and taking into account the peculiarities of wartime, the protest of the Church against the lawlessness of power is self-organized and, in fact, spontaneous. We see how the brethren of the Lavra and the clergy join the believers, and not vice versa. On the one hand, this is an advantage that shows the whole world that the protection of shrines is a voluntary choice of ordinary people, and not some kind of response to a call to undermine the authority of the authorities or a paid rally. On the other hand, this indicates that there is a lack of understanding of the ultimate goal of such standing. A declaration such as “Leave us alone” or “Hands off the Lavra”, alas, will work only in the short term, namely until people get tired and go home. And since Easter and other spring chores are ahead, it can be suggested that the protesters will have enough strength for another two or three weeks. After the decrease in the number of protesters, representatives of the authorities, accompanied by the executive service and the police, can come and take the Lavra away on any other day and without warning, when no one expects it.
Thus, the defenders of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra should agree on the opinion that a goal is needed, which, as a result, will be fixed not declaratively, but legally. Moreover, it is highly desirable that intermediaries in the form of representatives of the UN, OSCE, diplomatic missions of Orthodox countries and Local Churches be involved in this process.
As an idea for discussion, we propose to think about the development of a concordat, which should eventually become a legal act regulating relations between the Church and the state in Ukraine. Such a document, by the way, is very successfully used in the West by representatives of Roman Catholicism. It, among other things, also spelled out the points related to the real estate of the Church and other important aspects, such as, for example, the complete non-interference of the state in the affairs of the Church, which we can observe now.
Thus, a common unifying goal will appear at the stand, which, as a result, will affect the situation not only around the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, but throughout the country. It is important to start thinking about it now so that it is not too late. Any protest tends to fizzle out, and we must be prepared for this. If the authorities declare their desire for European values, the implementation of such a scenario will be the best course of events.
