The following press statement was issued to media today:
KYIV, UKRAINE – March 28, 2025 – International lawyer Robert Amsterdam, representing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), vehemently condemns the unauthorised intrusion by the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture into the sacred Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, one of Eastern Orthodoxy’s most revered holy sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Earlier today, a commission appointed by Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture arrived at the Lavra to conduct an “inspection” of the saintly relics housed within its renowned caves. This unwarranted raid represents a flagrant violation of religious freedom and the rights of the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful, Amsterdam says. The inspection commission, bizarrely including anatomists, histologists, embryologists, and even a doctor of veterinary sciences, arrived with the stated intention of conducting “incomprehensible research” on the holy relics preserved within the monastery’s sacred caves.
These relics, cherished by countless generations of Orthodox believers, include the remains of the 11th-century founders of the monastic community. The commission’s mission, authorised by an official order, involves verifying the presence of these relics, compiling a detailed inventory and conducting a “scientific” examination to assess their historical and scientific value.
The caves have been sealed to prepare for the commission’s work, scheduled to continue until May 30, 2025. “This is nothing short of a state-sponsored desecration of a site that has been a spiritual centre for nearly a millennium,” said Robert Amsterdam. “The government’s actions directly violate both Ukrainian law and international conventions on religious freedom. For the Ukrainian authorities to conduct such a raid, just days after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom was discussing the protection of holy relics in Ukraine, represents a further provocation.”
This initiative has prompted widespread outrage across Orthodox Ukraine, where these sacred relics are regarded not as mere historical artifacts, but as profoundly holy objects. For centuries, pilgrims from across Ukraine and beyond have journeyed to the Lavra to venerate these relics, drawing strength and inspiration from their presence. For many, the relics represent a living connection to God’s grace and an enduring testament to the Orthodox faith. Pilgrims pray for the intercession of these saints, often in hope of healing and spiritual comfort.
The monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have refused to cooperate with this initiative, explicitly calling it “blasphemous” and incompatible with their religious beliefs. “These holy relics have been reverently maintained by the monks of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra for almost 1,000 years,” Amsterdam continued. “After their confiscation during the Soviet era, historical justice was finally restored when they were returned to the Church’s care at the beginning of this century. This raid represents a disturbing return to Soviet-era religious persecution tactics.”
The commission’s inspection comes after the Ukrainian government’s controversial decision in March 2023 to terminate the UOC’s lease of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, an act widely regarded as unjust and politically motivated. Members of the UOC, a historic Christian denomination increasingly under attack by the government, are also currently preparing for the implementation of Law 3894, legislation that establishes a legal framework for the dissolution of the UOC. Law 3894 and the broader suppression of the UOC have been criticised by numerous internationally respected figures and organisations, including Pope Francis, the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, the World Council of Churches, the US Mission to the OSCE, the Church of England and Forum 18. This fresh attack on Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra threatens to further undermine religious freedom in Ukraine and deepen social divisions—something Ukraine can ill afford as it continues its struggle against Russia’s aggression.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church calls upon the international community to condemn this blatant violation of religious freedom and demands the immediate cessation of all unauthorised government activities at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.