Patriarch Filaret Against Transfer of Pochayiv and Kyiv Cave Monasteries to Russian Church.

Patriarch Filaret is against the transfer of the Pochayiv and Kyiv Cave Monasteries to the Russian Church. According to the patriarch, he knows about the initiative of some deputies: “We strongly object to it. The deputies do not understand the consequences of this transfer.”

Patriarch Filaret noted that a scenario is possible where the Moscow Patriarchate and Russian Orthodox Church will be entitled to the property of the Pochayiv and Kyiv Cave Monasteries, whereas the churches themselves will join the unified Ukrainian national church: “We will then protest to the end and will defend the Kyiv Cave Monastery and will not allow to pass the national shrines of the Ukrainian nation to the Russian state.”

Patriarch Filaret added that if the shrines become Moscow’s property, Ukrainian believers will not let in at all, Unian.net reported.