Dumenko claims that he does not consider Sviatohirsk Lavra as a Lavra

Sviatohirsk Lavra. Photo: Radio Liberty

The head of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, in an interview with Radio Liberty, stated that it is believed within his structure that Ukraine has two, rather than three monasteries with Lavra status.

"It's the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the Pochayiv Lavra because the Lavra status of the Sviatohirsk Monastery was granted during Yanukovych's rule. And it was at his request that Moscow elevated the status of this monastery to Lavra. But historically, it has never been a Lavra. Historically, we can speak of the existence of two major Ukrainian Lavras. These are the Kyiv Lavra and the Pochayiv Lavra," he stated.

At the same time, he claimed that both Lavras will eventually be incorporated into his structure, and that it's just a matter of time.

As reported by the UOJ, on April 25, the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office announced that a court had selected a measure of restraint for Metropolitan Arseny, the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, viz. detaining the UOC hierarch for 60 days without the right to bail.

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