Procession: relics of saints began to be taken out of the caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra

Employees of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture began to take out the relics of saints from the caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra. The monks say that "incomprehensible manipulations" are being carried out with the remains, while everything is done with exaggerated disdain, "it does not leave a feeling of terrible blasphemy." Izvestia investigated the situation.

Vestments on ropes

On August 19, employees of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and museum workers began removing the relics of saints from the caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra. Eyewitnesses say that crayfish are being opened nearby in the open air, and "incomprehensible manipulations" are being carried out with the remains. It is emphasized that unknown people remove the vestments from the saints, which are hung immediately on ropes, "they climb into the arks with their relics with their hands."

Monks also post photos of what is happening. "Everything looks as wild, terrible and contemptuous of our saints as possible. It is unknown what is happening now. Since the brethren were banned from accessing the caves a few months ago, our reverends have been in a completely unknown state. It doesn't let go of the feeling of terrible blasphemy," says the caption to the pictures.

Another author notes that in the summer, during the Peter's Fast, the inhabitants of the lavra traditionally "dressed up" the relics of the saints in order to dry the vestments from the cave dampness. It was a solemn and responsible event, which was trusted only to monks in holy orders. They sang akathists and recited prayers without fail during the ceremony, and a candle was carried in front of each monk.

There is no question of such a thing now. Archbishop of the UOC Jonah (Cherepanov) notes that monks traditionally carried the remains on special trays in the form of a human silhouette. "Usually, during the rediscovery, the relics must remain not only on this tray, but also on a special light-colored mantle, so as not to lose even a speck of dust from the greatest shrines," he emphasizes.

According to Cherepanov, now the museum workers have simply put these structures aside. "Where and on what the relics lie, and how many particles fell under the feet and trampled underfoot during this outrage, is anyone's guess," he says indignantly. According to him, the shrines are being treated the same way as in Soviet times, when the lavra had a museum and the monastery was closed.

Believers on buses

The Ukrainian authorities have been trying for several years to squeeze the monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church out of the Kiev Caves Lavra. In November 2022, security forces conducted large-scale searches in the monastery, and criminal cases were opened against several people. The reason was a video in which a church choir allegedly sings a song about the awakening of Russia. The SBU promised then to prevent the monastery from becoming a "cell of the Russian world," while the monks called the video fake.

In March 2023, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture terminated the lease and ordered the clergy to vacate the territory, and a large-scale street confrontation between believers and nationalist militants began. The monastery's vicar, Metropolitan Pavel, then addressed Zelensky. "I tell you and your pack that our tears will not fall to the ground, they will fall on your head," he said.

At the same time, officials transparently hinted that all problems could be resolved if the monks changed jurisdiction from the canonical UOC to the schismatic OCU. "I think that the joint work of specialists and law enforcement officers will stimulate such a decision," argued Culture Minister Alexander Tkachenko. Over the years, however, there has been only one defector.

Further, in August-September 2023, the police stormed several buildings of the lavra, including the residence of the primate of the UOC, Metropolitan Onufriy. Later, the only defector, Avraamiy Lotysh, settled in it. In addition, the security forces banned all visitors from entering the territory under the control of the UOC, except for priests, monks and employees of the monastery.

Throughout 2024 and in the first half of 2025, there were legal proceedings regarding the eviction of monks. All this time, the Ukrainian authorities continue to carry out propaganda and entertainment events on the occupied part of the lavra, including filming a cooking show, a "military prayer breakfast," performances with archery and saber fights, and much more. A certain "de-russification" of the murals of the Assumption Cathedral of the monastery is also being discussed.

The main problem for the OCU at the same time was the almost complete absence of its monks and parishioners. It is known that they are trying to gather monks from other Ukrainian monasteries, but there are no willing ones. The attendance of the lavra by believers is also extremely low. Previously, about 400,000 people came to the monastery annually, but now the figure has dropped to 50-80 thousand people. To create at least some kind of picture, the believers of the OCU are taken by buses.

This is not the first time that the topic of the relics kept in the lavra has appeared in public space. Back in June 2023, the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, reported that the Kiev authorities and UNESCO had agreed to remove Christian valuables from the monastery, including the remains of saints. In the future, they are supposed to be transferred to the museums of the Vatican, Italy, Germany and France under the pretext of saving them from Russian missile attacks.

In March of this year, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine created a commission to check the "presence of the remains of saints" in the caves. The special order emphasized that an inventory was needed to "determine the historical and scientific value" of the relics. At the end of March, officials, accompanied by security forces, conducted the first raid on the caves, while the results of the commission's work were classified.

What the experts say

Former Verkhovna Rada deputy Volodymyr Oleynik believes that the canonical UOC is being destroyed in Ukraine.

— Monks are being squeezed out of the monastery, there is talk of some kind of "de-russification" of temples. At the same time, the schismatic OCU has neither believers nor its own monks. There are no people at the services, some strange culinary events are held, meetings at which Zelensky is glorified. This is all outright devilry. I think the OCU is just an intermediate link in this scheme, and eventually the spiritual space is cleared for the Greek Catholics to come," he emphasizes.

Political scientist Alexander Dudchak also believes that the Kiev authorities are systematically trying to squeeze the UOC out of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

— These people have nothing sacred. This is the agony of the Kiev regime. At the same time, it is difficult to say why the attack of activity occurred right now. On the one hand, exactly one year ago, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law banning the UOC. Perhaps in this way they are trying to breathe new life into that initiative. Perhaps Zelensky is trying to distract attention from his talks with Donald Trump and what is happening at the front," he argues.