Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra will open the Near Caves to visitors from 25 February
This was reported by The Public, citing a statement by Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetiana Berezhna.
Berezhna said that the decision to open access to the Near Caves is historic and is the result of cooperation between the state and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
According to her, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra remains an important spiritual and cultural foundation of Ukraine, and restoring access to the caves is important for society and visitors.
The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine announced that access to the Near Caves will be open to visitors starting on 25 February.
As previously reported, on 29 March 2023, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve terminated its lease agreement with the Holy Dormition Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). On the same day, the Kyiv Economic Court opened proceedings on the monastery's lawsuit regarding this decision.
On 9 August 2023, the court ruled that the termination of the agreement between the monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and the reserve was lawful. Following this, on 11 August 2023, the reserve temporarily suspended visitor access to the Lower Lavra territory.
