Kiev Pechersk Lavra churches handed over to the state
On Thursday, 5 January, the commission which dealt with the transfer of these main shrines from the UOC-MP completed its work.
The Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The refectory church is an architectural monument of national importance, it is very important to observe the procedure of protection and preservation of cultural heritage monuments.
Earlier, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy stated that it will recommend the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate not to extend the lease of the Uspenskiy and Trapezniy churches in the National Kyiv Pecherskiy Reserve.
Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said that despite the fact that Metropolitan Pavlo, who was supposed to sign the act, did not appear at the last meeting of the commission, this was not an obstacle to the return of state property:
As a result of the commission's work, a relevant Act of return of the buildings was signed by the UOC.
The minister added:
The Commission began its work on 2 January this year and was engaged in the inventory of the property, as well as drawing up an act of technical inspection of the two buildings. The Commission's work provided a comprehensive description of the property of the Assumption Cathedral and the Trapeznaya Church, the condition of the iconostases and icons, other property which cannot be separated from the houses of worship (eg the Holy Gates, chandeliers) to return it to the balance keeper.