The Metropolitan of Chisinau and all Moldova Vladimir
The Primate of the Church of Moldova expressed in a letter to Peter Poroshenko concern about the decisions of the Ministry of justice on the abolition of the re-buildings of the Pochayiv Lavra.
Orthodox Church of Moldova with great concern learned of the intention of the Ministry of justice of Ukraine to cancel the decision on transfer of property of the UOC of the monastic complex of the Dormition Pochayiv Lavra. This is stated in the appeal of the Metropolitan of Chisinau, Vladimir, published on the website of the Church of Moldova on 26 November.
“The Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra, which is so like to visit the believers of the Republic of Moldova is for the entire Orthodox world the true bulwark of our faith, protected for many years with a special piety, despite all the hardships and misfortunes, – said Metropolitan Volodymyr. – <…> In the Republic of Moldova, our blessing, is rooted annual pious custom Hiking the procession to the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra, which involves a large number of Moldovan pilgrims. They take this blessed feat to gain the help of the mother of God, from the saints of the venerable job and Amphilochius of Pochayiv, and of all the ascetics and spiritual fathers carrying their tireless obedience on the Pochaev mountain.”
Bishop Volodymyr stresses that the Synod of the Moldovan Orthodox Church, the clergy and all the pious Moldavian people Express words of support to all of the clergy and the Ukrainian people, obeying the only canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
“In the context of all the above, we encourage the Ukrainian leadership to fulfill its constitutional role of guarantor of freedom and religious peace in the country, and we, in turn, worsen our prayers to merciful God that He has given us all the peace and unity of the faith, according to the call of the Holy Apostle Paul: “Try to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4, 3)”, – stated in the message.
As reported by the SPM, 23 November the Ministry of justice of Ukraine has canceled the re-construction of the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra. In turn, the Chairman of the legal Department of the UOC Archpriest Oleksandr bakhov said that Pochayiv Lavra continues to be in legal and legitimate use of the brethren of the monastery, despite the decision of the Ministry of justice.