VIDEO: Law Enforcement Chains Three Buildings of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

Law enforcement officials have chained three buildings of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, where pilgrims and some monks reside. The information is reported by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

The Union of Orthodox Journalists had previously reported that lock barriers were broken in the guest building of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and armed police entered.

“At this very moment, an assault has begun on the 54th, 57th, and 58th buildings of the Lavra. Sources from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra report that law enforcement has chained the designated buildings. They have already broken the locks and entered the 57th building. Not only pilgrims live in these buildings, but also a portion of the monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra,” states a message in the UOC’s Telegram channel.

On August 10, a Kyiv court approved a lawsuit aimed at eliminating obstacles to the use of property against the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The lawyer of the Lavra, senior priest Nikita Chekman from the canonical UOC, declared that this is the most disgraceful judicial decision in Ukraine’s history.

Over the past year, the Ukrainian authorities have raised a massive wave of persecution against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Citing connections to Russia, local authorities in various regions of Ukraine have decided to ban the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and a bill has been introduced in the Parliament to effectively prohibit it throughout the country. Some clergy members of the Church are facing sanctions imposed by the authorities.

The Security Service of Ukraine has begun criminal proceedings against UOC clergy, carrying out “counter-intelligence measures” and searching bishops and priests for evidence of “anti-Ukrainian activities” in churches and monasteries.