OCU marks 975th anniversary of Lavra's foundation with Athos monks
Abbot of New Esphigmenou Archimandrite Bartholomew and Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: a screenshot from the OCU livestream
In Kyiv, the OCU held celebrations marking the 975th anniversary of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra's foundation, with the participation of monks from New Esphigmenou, reports the National Reserve on Facebook.
The festive events took place on July 9 and 10, 2026, and were dedicated to the commemoration of St. Anthony of the Caves. The Divine Liturgy was led by Archimandrite Bartholomew, abbot of New Esphigmenou.
The choir, led by Archon Protopsaltis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Gregory Daravanoglou, performed hymns in the Byzantine tradition. The celebrations were attended by DESS officials, government representatives, and military chaplains.
The National Reserve noted that "the participation of the Athonite brotherhood in the jubilee celebrations underscored the spiritual connection between Kyiv and Athos."
As the UOJ reported, the OCU arranged a visit of monks from Athos’ New Esphigmenou to the Lavra.
Read also
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.
DESS official says state should not govern the Church
A DESS official called for cooperation between the state and the Church for the benefit of citizens.
Poltava court upholds mobilization of Protestant pastor
A court in the Poltava region ruled that a prior criminal conviction and religious beliefs do not exempt a person from military service.