Zelenskyy: We will not let Russia steal any valuables from our Lavras
Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: screenshot of Zelenskyy's YouTube channel
On March 12, 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he would not allow Russia to steal any valuables from the Ukrainian Lavra. The President of Ukraine said this in an evening address posted on his official YouTube channel.
“There is a movement this week to strengthen our spiritual independence. Society sees it. And I see the Ukrainians’ approval of these steps of ours – quite legal,” Zelenskyy said, apparently referring to the decision of the Ministry of Culture to expel the UOC from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The President promised to continue “this movement”: “We will not allow a terrorist state to have at least some opportunity to manipulate the spirituality of our people, destroy Ukrainian shrines – our Lavras – or steal any valuables from them.”
Zelenskyy is sure that such actions of the state will help win the war and maintain unity.
“We can win. We can! If we protect our unity, each other and our state. I thank everyone who cares about Ukraine and Ukrainians! I thank everyone who cares about our unity – and the unity of the world for the sake of Ukraine!” the head of state noted.
Earlier, Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian would no longer be alienated in the Lavra.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.