Greek media reported that the pressure on the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra has increased on the occasion of the expected meeting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew tomorrow, Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the Phanar. This is reported by the website Romfea.gr.

“Reportedly, during the meeting will discuss the issue of “assigning” Kiev-Pechersk Lavra stavropigial status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other actions to “unite” Ukrainian Orthodoxy,” – said in the publication.

The publication noted that the monks of the Lavra do not want either to transfer to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church or to accept the stavropigion status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and “this is what complicates the negotiations”.