Pochaev Lavra abbot responds to Dumenko's words about “non-Ukrainian” monks

Metropolitan Vladimir (Moroz) of Pochaev. Photo: pochaev.org.ua

The abbot of the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra, Metropolitan Vladimir (Moroz), in a commentary for the UOJ, called the words of the head of the OCU, Sergei (Epiphany) Dumenko, that the monks in the Lavra "were mostly brought from other countries".

He noted that all the monks in the Pochaev Lavra are citizens of Ukraine and come from our country.

“An outright lie. It can be seen that they (representatives of the OCU – Ed.) tend to tell a lie,” said the bishop. “Whoever wants to really be sure can find out at the passport office that all the monks in the Pochaev Lavra are Ukrainians, they all have Ukrainian passports.”

Metropolitan Vladimir said that now there are more than 150 monks in the monastery and the Ukrainian special services have repeatedly had the opportunity to inquire about the inhabitants of the Lavra - their citizenship and origin. And Dumenko's statement is most likely aimed at the audience that wants to believe in the “non-Ukrainianness” of the UOC and the monks of the monasteries of the canonical Church.

As reported, Dumenko said that there are "very few" monks-Ukrainians in the Pochaev Lavra.

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