What Christian Treasures and Relics May Kiev Hand Over to Europe for 'Safekeeping'?
What Christian Treasures and Relics May Kiev Hand Over to Europe for 'Safekeeping'?
Sputnik International
While the regime in Kiev continues to crack down on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, forcibly evicting clerics from places of worship, it now essentially seeks to seize the holy relics that the church has been taking care of for years.
According to the data obtained by Russian intelligence, Kiev has reached an agreement with UNESCO to move “Christian valuables and holy relics” from the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra – famous monastery complex located in the Ukrainian capital – to museums in Italy, France, Germany and the Vatican.This transfer is expected to be carried out under the pretext of protecting these items from “Russian missile strikes.”
While the regime in Kiev continues to crack down on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, forcibly evicting clerics from places of worship, it now essentially seeks to seize the holy relics that the church has been taking care of for years.
According to the data obtained by Russian intelligence, Kiev has reached an agreement with UNESCO to move “Christian valuables and holy relics” from the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra – famous monastery complex located in the Ukrainian capital – to museums in Italy, France, Germany and the Vatican.
This transfer is expected to be carried out under the pretext of protecting these items from “Russian missile strikes.”
Following the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict in February 2022, the regime in Kiev intensified its ongoing crackdown against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Above: Cathedral of the Dormition at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
Legislators of the Kiev regime have also proposed to ban the activities of any religious organizations in the country deemed "Russian-affiliated" by them, with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church being one such entity.
A 19th century icon "St. Anthony Pechersky digging a cave." Anthony, also referred to as Anthony of Kiev and Anthony of the Caves, is regarded as one of the founders of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
The persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by Kiev regime evoked protests from people all over the world who urged Western religious and human rights organizations to condemn this crackdown.
Above: A prothesis plate (year 1768) from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra's Cathedral of the Dormition, on display during the opening of the Museum of History of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
A Christian worshipper prays in front of Virgin Mary icon at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
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![Legislators of the Kiev regime have also proposed to ban the activities of any religious organizations in the country deemed "Russian-affiliated" by them, with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church being one such entity.Above: Inside the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra complex. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/1b/1111494678_0:0:3077:2047_600x0_80_0_1_ba79539c39420165f6ca34597c28c0d0.jpg "Legislators of the Kiev regime have also proposed to ban the activities of any religious organizations in the country deemed "Russian-affiliated" by them, with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church being one such entity.Above: Inside the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra complex.")
![A mid-18th century "Annunciation" icon at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/1b/1111494862_0:0:434:600_600x0_80_0_1_2f8602f2ef05a9be7bee9f7118b40b8b.jpg "A mid-18th century "Annunciation" icon at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.")
![A 19th century icon "St. Anthony Pechersky digging a cave." Anthony, also referred to as Anthony of Kiev and Anthony of the Caves, is regarded as one of the founders of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/1b/1111495247_0:0:2630:2048_600x0_80_0_1_7c98cfe0e0de49cb20c3502e9968889b.jpg "A 19th century icon "St. Anthony Pechersky digging a cave." Anthony, also referred to as Anthony of Kiev and Anthony of the Caves, is regarded as one of the founders of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.")
