Olga Robeyko 09:01, 07.01.23 – UNIAN

The service began at 9 am.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius, celebrates a historic service on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ on January 7. This is the first time the OCU holds a Christmas service on the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Watch the online broadcast on the UNIAN website.

At 9 am in the Dormition Cathedral of the Lavra, the primate of the OCU, Epiphanius, led the Christmas service. On the eve of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine received permission to rent from the reserve, which is owned by the state. 

Previously, only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate conducted the Christmas service in the Assumption Cathedral.

Today, police and National Guardsmen are on duty near the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. They check the documents of those wishing to attend services with Metropolitan Epiphanius.

https://www.unian.net/player/IRHsXpku

The situation in the morning near the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

“We heartily congratulate you on the feast of the Nativity of Christ – on the event of eternal joy, the value of which has not diminished even for more than two thousand years, and which will not go out until this world exists. As the Star of Bethlehem lit up the dark night sky and showed the way to the wise, so Jesus Himself Christ is the light that shines in all darkness, and no darkness can overcome.Let us find this light in our hearts, let us not let despondency, evil or nonhumans put it out.United in a single prayer with millions of ardent hearts, we glorify the newborn Savior in our native language , in native shrines, as a united, invincible, free people. And no darkness is afraid of us – because God is with us,” the OCU congratulated.

OCU Christmas service in the Lavra and outrage of the UOC-MP

Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Epiphany has permission to conduct services in the Assumption Cathedral on the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. As reported by the acting General Director of the National Kiev-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve Oleksandr Rudnyk, the Ministry of Culture granted permission for its holding.

As you know, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy is the manager of state property on the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, which is managed by the state reserve. The UOC-MP filmed the largest churches here. But the Assumption Cathedral and the Refectory Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra were returned to the state.

The UOC-MP is convinced that their lease agreements for the Upper Lavra churches were unlawfully terminated and threatened with a lawsuit.

Also, the UOC-MP distributed a video with a statement by the head of the reserve, Oleksandr Rudnik, that the OCU had not received any requests to use the Assumption Cathedral and the Refectory Church for worship . This statement turned out to be irrelevant.

https://www.unian.net/society/epifaniy-provodit-rozhdestvenskoe-bogosluzhenie-v-kievo-pecherskoy-lavre-onlayn-novosti-kieva-12101532.html