Ukraine war: Orthodox clerics say they will not leave Kyiv monastery
Source: BBC
Ukraine war: Orthodox clerics say they will not leave Kyiv monastery
29 March 2023
By Hugo Bachega
BBC News, Kyiv
Orthodox Christian clerics say they will stay at a historic monastery in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, despite a planned government-ordered eviction of hundreds of priests, monks and students.
The Pechersk Lavra is a seat of Ukraine's Orthodox Church (UOC), which split from the Moscow patriarchate after Russia's invasion last year.
But Ukrainian officials suspect some of the top clergy have maintained ties with the church in Moscow, which they deny.
The UOC has been ordered to leave the site by the end of Wednesday.
The Ukrainian government, which owns the vast 11th Century monastery overlooking the Dnipro River, says the decision was taken after a commission discovered multiple violations of the tenancy agreement of the complex, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65117269
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