The schismatics of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) blocked the entrance of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to the Church of Agapit of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported on August 13 in the Telegram channel.

“Kiev-Pechersk Lavra now. Protesters against the UOC do not let parishioners into the church of St. Agapit,” the statement said.

The Union also released a video from the scene. In the footage, you can see how the schismatics stand at the entrance to the temple and do not let the parishioners through.

There are police officers on the territory of the temple, but they do not interfere in what is happening.

On this day, Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine held a liturgy in the church of St. Agapit of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. It was noted that the temple was overcrowded with parishioners.

On August 11, the Russian Foreign Ministry admitted that the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra could be seized and closed after a court decision in Kyiv to evict the monks. The ministry said it was likely that the Lavra would be looted.

In March of this year, the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Museum-Reserve, on whose territory the monastery is located, broke the lease agreement and demanded that the monks leave the monastery. Then the acting general director of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Alexander Rudnik, demanded that the monks leave the territory of the monastery before the end of the month. The UOC did not comply with the order.