Epiphany service in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra to be guarded by police
Police will be guarding mass in the Dormition Cathedral [of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra – ed.] and adjacent territories on 7 January.
Source: Interfax Ukraine, citing Ivan Vyhivsky, Head of General Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv.
Quote: "Kyiv Police is getting ready to guarantee public safety and order during mass in the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Accordingly, a certain number of policemen will be present around the perimeter of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, as well as directly located in the Upper Lavra territory."
Details: Vyhivsky added that local police do not have any information regarding potential provocations during mass; however, it is the duty of law enforcement officers to prevent any deviations from public order, and the police are prepared.
Background:
- On 2 December, with the announcement of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, it became known that the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra has been registered as a monastery of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). At the same time, the Minister of Culture, Oleksandr Tkachenko, explained that the announcement does not mean a transfer of the Lavra complex from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) to the OCU.
- On 5 January, Tkachenko announced that the Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church have been officially returned to the public domain; however, the governor of the UOC MP did not show up to sign the respective acts.
- UOC MP declared that Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius, does not have permission to hold a service in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (the Monastery of the Caves) on 7 January, and his intention is an attempt to "forcibly seize the Dormition Cathedral".
- The Christmas mass of the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius, is to be carried out in the Dormition Cathedral of the Lavra complex. The Ministry of Culture has granted permission for the event and concluded a corresponding agreement with the Lavra.
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