Kiev Pechersk Lavra was deprived of access to caves with relics

Ukrainian security forces have deprived the brethren of the Kiev Caves Lavra and the faithful of access to the caves where the relics of saints are kept. This was announced on April 1 by the former rector of the Tithe Monastery in Kiev, minor Bishop of Makarovsky of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) Gideon (Kharon).

"There are no opportunities to enter Near or Far caves now. All the locks have been changed there, everything is under guard," he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

The bishop called the seizure of the caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra a "demonic inventory," stressing that it was not yet known when it would end.

Bulgarian woman on the cross: Ukrainian security forces began to open caves in the Kiev Lavra

In the future, DNA tests of the holy relics are planned.

The Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ) announced the beginning of the seizure of the Nearby caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra on March 28. It was noted that police officers entered the closed premises of the monastery. One of the employees of the lavra was spotted on the territory with a saw-"grinder" in his hands.

On March 6, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine announced that a special commission would assess the condition and safety of the relics of saints in the Near and Far caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra.

Prior to that, on January 27, the Ukrainian court suspended the case on the eviction of monks from the Kiev Pechersk Lavra until the full consideration of the case on the unilateral termination of the agreement on the use of the Lower Lavra.