The Security Service of Ukraine is conducting searches at the Pochaiv Lavra, belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

In Ukraine, pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church continues. The Security Service of Ukraine is conducting searches at the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra, which belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The searches are being conducted as part of a criminal investigation into the monastery’s leadership’s alleged involvement in inciting national hatred and animosity.

This information has been reported by the press service of the Security Service of Ukraine.

“The searches are being carried out as part of a criminal investigation into the involvement of the Lavra’s leadership in inciting national enmity and hatred. According to the investigation, representatives of the Pochayiv Lavra published a post on the monastery’s website that insulted the national honor and dignity of Jews, as well as incited religious discord against representatives of all churches except the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” the Security Service of Ukraine’s post stated.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, the clergy of the Lavra “cast doubt on the existence of Ukraine as a sovereign state separate from Russia.”

An examination of the publications was conducted, which “confirmed the presence of statements in the internet publication that incited interethnic discord and hatred.”

The Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra is an Orthodox male monastery in Pochayiv, Kremenets District, Ternopil Oblast, with the status of a Lavra under the control of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). It is the most significant Orthodox shrine in western Ukraine and the second most important in Ukraine after the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The Pochayiv Spiritual Seminary is located on its premises.

It’s worth noting that on October 19, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved in principle a bill to terminate the activities of religious organizations related to Russia. This document was criticized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.