The leadership of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra reserve now prohibits students, teachers and other employees of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary from arriving on the territory of the Lavra, as they consider them to be “visitors” of the monastery. This is discussed in the letter of acting. Director General of the Reserve Maxim Ostapenko, addressed to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy. A photocopy of the letter was published by the Telegram channel Lavra live.

Ostapenko believes that only priests, monks and service personnel have access to the territory of the Lower Lavra. And “due to the repeated obstruction of the work of the commission for sealing the buildings”, the reserve closed the territory of the Lower Lavra for visitors from August 11, 2023 by a special order.

“The reserve and the Theological Academy do not have contractual relations regarding the activities of the Theological Academy on the territory and in the buildings of the Lower Lavra, as well as regarding the stay of its students, teachers and employees there,” the letter says. “In view of the foregoing, the reserve cannot give permission to students, teachers and employees of the Theological Academy, since they are considered visitors, whose access to the territory of the Lower Lavra is closed according to the order of the Reserve.”