Commission of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture arrives at Kiev Caves Lavra to “inventory and inspect” relics of the Kiev Caves saints

DECR Communication Service, 27/03/2025

On 25^th March 2025, a commission of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture entered the territory of the Lower Caves of the Holy Dormition Kiev Caves Lavra to conduct an “inventory and inspection” of the holy relics of the Kiev Caves saints. A group of people representing the commission gathered at the entrance to the Lavra’s Near Caves, official Telegram channel of the Kiev Caves Lavra reports. The atmosphere is calm, the brethren and the Lavra’s lawyers are present at the scene, Press Service of the Lavra reported.

A directive was issued in early March which established a special commission to “inspect and inventory the relics” of the Kiev Caves Lavra saints. The inspection is to be completed by 30^th May. As the directive points out, if during its work the commission will discover “items fitting into the category of cultural heritage, they [are to be] included in special registers to be attached to the commission’s report.” As the Ministry of Culture also announced, the details of the commission’s work will be marked in the Ministry as “restricted access information,” TASS news agency reports.

The Kievan authorities take systematic steps to force the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church out of the Kiev Caves Lavra. In March 2023, the Museum “Kiev Caves Lavra” terminated the lease agreement with the canonical Church. In early July of that year, a commission of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture arrived at the Lavra, replaced the locks and sealed its buildings. The parishioners tried to prevent that, organizing prayer vigils. However, the museum staff and commission members involved the police in their “work.”

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Commission of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture arrives at Kiev Caves Lavra to “inventory and inspect” relics of the Kiev Caves saints

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons