The transfer of 16 buildings of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to the reserve was not carried out. This was announced on May 2 by the information and educational department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

“The agreement concluded in 2013 between the monastery and the reserve on the use of religious buildings and structures by the religious community is in force. The dispute over the unilateral refusal of the reserve from the contract continues, resolved by the court in Kyiv. Until a single decision has been made on the case, the monastery continues to use the premises and perform services,” the Telegram message says.

The UOC noted that under the contract for the transfer and return of property, the governing body of the state institution forms a commission. Entry into the rights to use property arises from the moment the parties sign the acts of acceptance and transfer of property.

“The monastery does not recognize the unilateral termination of the agreement by the reserve, representatives of the monastery did not participate in the activities of the commission, they did not sign any acts,” the UOC said.

Earlier that day, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine announced the transfer of 16 buildings of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to the use of the national historical and cultural reserve. The department noted that work on the acceptance and transfer of property was carried out on May 1 and 2. The transferred objects, according to the ministry, include historical monuments of national and local significance.

The day before, on May 1, the commission of the Ministry of Culture inspected the premises of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary of the UOC. According to the Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ), no documents on the transfer of buildings to the balance of the reserve were signed.

Prior to this, on April 24, the Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko proposed to open a rehabilitation center for the military or a center for folk art crafts in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra instead of the monastery. According to Tkachenko, the department plans to develop a project for the management and use of the territory of the monastery.

At the same time, on April 21, security forces cordoned off the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and did not let parishioners into the monastery. On the same day, the police and employees of the reserve blocked the entrance to the temple of the icon of the Mother of God «Life-Giving Spring» on the territory of the monastery.