Metropolitan Pavel deems the court’s ruling on house arrest as politically motivated

Moscow, April 1 – Metropolitan Pavlo, rector of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, said that the court’s decision on round-the-clock house arrest for two months on suspicion of inciting inter-religious hatred and justifying Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine is nothing more than a political matter.

“There is no reason … I did nothing. I know that this is political, because I was threatened. The Security Service of Ukraine called me to the director of the museum, and they said it was necessary to open up against you. And Metropolitan Pavel said in a video posted on the Telegram channel of the publication .. I know who it is, but I’m not going to single it out. It’s not my style.

He stressed that he accepts everything as God’s will, and as a believer he accepts the whole situation “quite calmly and with honour”.

At the same time, he notes that at the address where he will serve his term, there is no communication, no heat, no light, “neither a mug nor a spoon,”

As previously reported in the Ukrainian edition “Strana”, a Kiev court chose a measure of restraint for the rector of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel, in the form of round-the-clock house arrest with an electronic bracelet.

On Saturday morning, Bishop Pavel (Lebed), abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, said that Ukrainian authorities suspected him of “collaboration with Russia and interfaith incitement.” Later, eyewitnesses reported on searches in the house of the Lavra governor, and Pavel himself, in a conversation with parishioners, reported on “house arrest” and a certain protocol that he “needed to sign.” The Security Service of Ukraine later confirmed that the Metropolitan had been charged under two articles, and Ukrainian media reported that the court’s prosecutor’s office was demanding his round-the-clock house arrest.

A new round of conflict over the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra began with the notification of the University of British Columbia of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine about the unilateral termination of the lease of the monastery, since the monks were asked to leave the Lavra on March 29. Ukraine’s Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko said that the monks could stay in the Lavra, provided they were transferred to the dissident OCU. However, the abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), said that there can be no concessions in the Lavra, the brethren will stand to the end. He also said that unilaterally breaking the lease agreement for the Lavra premises is impossible, a court decision is needed, and a lawsuit on the inadmissibility of terminating the lease was filed with the Kiev Economic Court.

Earlier, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and the All-Russian called the authorities’ order for the monks to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, which Orthodox Christians consider one of the earthly inheritances of the Mother of God, to be a “monstrous act.” He addressed the heads of the local Orthodox Churches, Pope Francis, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other religious leaders and representatives of international organizations with letters calling on them to “make every effort” to prevent the expulsion of monks and congregants. Closing the monastery. Pope Francis also expressed concern about the situation with the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and called on “parties involved in the war to respect religious sites”.