While Reserve cuts locks on churches, Dumenko "serves" in Lavra's Far Caves
Dumenko in the Far Caves of the Lavra. Photo: OCU
On February 17, 2026, while employees of the National Reserve were conducting work to open the churches of the Lower Lavra, the head of the OCU Epifaniy Dumenko performed a "liturgy" in the underground Church of the Nativity of Christ in the Far Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. This was reported on the structure's website.
The "service," as stated, was timed to coincide with the day of remembrance of Saint Theodore the Silent, whose relics rest in these Caves.
According to the published information, Epifaniy was concelebrated by "Archbishop" Volodymyr of Zhytomyr and Polissya, "abbot" bishop Avramiy, the monastery brotherhood, and invited clergy.
As the UOJ wrote, on the same day Reserve employees cut locks on two churches of the Lower Lavra. This concerns the Exaltation of the Cross and Warm Churches, to which the monastery brotherhood previously maintained access.
As a result of the actions taken, the monks' access to the shrines was effectively blocked.
Read also
Orthodox and Catholic bishops make joint visit to Mount Athos
The head of the Phanar blessed a joint pilgrimage to Mount Athos by Roman Catholic and Orthodox bishops.
UOC Kryvyi Rih Eparchy marks 30th anniversary
Metropolitan Yefrem led the anniversary Divine Liturgy in Kryvyi Rih.
Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”
The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl
UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.
Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom
The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.
Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million
Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.