The monks occupying the Lavra of the Caves of kyiv, a famous monastery classified as a heritage of humanity, had until Wednesday March 29 to leave the premises. The Ukrainian government wants to reduce the influence of these Orthodox monks subject to the Moscow Patriarchate. The monks do not intend to leave.
From our correspondent in kyiv, Peter Alonso
The leader of monasteryMetropolitan Pavlo, addressed his faithful directly after a morning of prayers: We will stay here “, he launched.
Facing him, three or four hundred faithful who had come especially to defend their Church, this Orthodox branch still attached to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Among them was Nadia, a mother in her thirties, who feels that this is really not the time for a conflict to arise between the government and her Church. So, she says, we have to fight the enemy, namely Russia.
Risk of discord
Officially, this branch of the Orthodox Church has broken with Moscow, but the government and part of society suspect it of maintaining ties.
The government wants to reduce its influence, while avoiding sowing discord. Because the strength of the country for a year, lies in its great unity in the face of Russian aggression.
kyiv is therefore seeking the right balance: a senior state official has just assured that no one would be dragged out of the monastery.
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