More and more information is appearing that the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is going to be transferred under the control of the Patriarchate of Constantinople as a stavropigia. Allegedly, Zelensky personally traveled to the Phanar for this purpose. In principle, such a possibility cannot be excluded, however, several points in this story draw attention.

First. If the transfer to Constantinople does take place, it will indirectly mean that Bartholomew recognizes the subjectivity and inability of his project called the OCU to take and keep under control such an object. Otherwise, how then to explain that in the process of negotiations between the state of Ukraine and the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Dumenko does not even act as a separate party? That is, Bartholomew created the OCU, defining Ukraine as the boundaries of its canonical territory. Lavra is within the boundaries of the canonical territory of the OCU (as understood by the OCU and those who recognized it). Nevertheless, Dumenko’s position on this issue is not taken into account, and Bartholomew, as the head of another Local Church, actually invades the canonical territory of the OCU, without even trying to give it any features of canonicity. Will the OCU respond to this?

Second. Phanar’s Stavropigia in Lavra is an extremely dubious project. The fact is that the already existing representative office of the Phanar in Kiev on the basis of St. Andrew’s Church with an entire bishop at its head did not particularly entice anyone. Judging by the photos on the Facebook page of this stavropigion, the attendance of St. Andrew’s Church after its transfer to the Phanariots has decreased many times, and the bishop is often forced to act on the principle of “I serve myself, I sing myself, I serve the censer myself”. That is, the appearance of Greeks in Lavra will actually add to the state even more budget expenditures “for culture”, which will have to be obtained by renting out Lavra premises. The Greeks will have no other means of maintaining the monastery.

Third. Who will populate the remaining buildings that will fall under the control of the Stavropigia? No one! It is hard to imagine that 20-30 monks will come from somewhere in Greece to organize monastic life in Kyiv Lavra. In this situation one cannot rely on the OCU either, because monasticism is not honored in this organization. What is left? The answer is simple. The monks of the UOC will remain in Lavra (on bird’s rights, of course). This, by the way, was confirmed by representatives of the Ministry of Culture, who said that they do not intend to seal the buildings where the monks live.

What we end up with. It is obvious that Zelensky is stressed by the issue with the Church. It is not his topic and not his initiative. This whole process is being pedaled by Western partners in the context of a common struggle with Orthodoxy. Their interests, in this case, are represented by Patriarch Bartholomew. Thus, if the Lavra will be handed over to Constantinople, it will be more of an image step than an effective victory. The monks of the UOC will remain in Lavra, having enrolled them, against their own will, in the composition of this very stauropy. The conditions of their detention in the monastery will be made so unbearable that they will either have to dialog and accept the conditions of the new masters, or leave the Lavra. In fact, for some time Kiev-Pechersk Lavra will turn into Ukrainian Esphigmen. But for how long the monks will be strong enough to resist Fanar and the state is unknown. Although, from a tactical point of view, it is better for them to stay on the rights of the besieged. The situation in the world changes daily and it is unknown what other turns await Ukraine in the future, and you can leave the Lavra at any time.