Department for External Church Relations
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Antiochian Orthodox hierarch hopes for the reversal of decision to evict monks from the Kiev Lavra of the Caves
DECR Communication Service, 28.03.2023.
Metropolitan Isaac of Germany and Central Europe said that the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Germany and Central Europe has deplored the decision to close the Kiev Lavra of the Caves, which is a holy shrine of the Orthodox Church.
In his address on March 23, 2023, the archpastor underscored that the Monastery of the Caves used to be a centre of Orthodoxy in the Middle Ages and is of great importance to Orthodox Christians at present. He added that after the monastery had been closed at the time of militant atheism and that it was the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that has restored the holy abode. The metropolitan continued to say: “The clergy and monks have been putting great efforts and working hard to keep the monastery in good order. Therefore, it is very regrettable that the permit to celebrate at this holy place has been taken away from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”
The hierarch of the Antiochian Church has called on everyone on whom it depends to help the clergy and monks to continue their spiritual life in the Kiev Lavra of the Caves. Also, he asked all “brothers from the Orthodox Sister Churches to offer up their prayers” for it.
“Let the lampions of prayer continue shining in the Kiev Lavra of the Caves; let the faithful come there freely to take part in the sacraments and venerate the saints of the Caves. We hope and pray that with God’s help this decision will be rescinded with the consent of all parties involved,” Metropolitan Isaac emphasized.
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