OCU establishes "Pochaiv Monastery" structure

Pochaiv Lavra. Photo: Obozrevatel

On February 3, 2025, the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) announced the creation of the "Pochaiv Holy-Spiritual Men’s Monastery of the Ternopil Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church of Ukraine)," according to the OCU's official website. The decree was signed by Epifaniy Dumenko, and "Metropolitan" Nestor Pysyk of Ternopil and Kremenets was appointed as the head of the new structure.

It will be reminded that in March 2023, the OCU established the "Pochayiv Holy Assumption Lavra of the Ternopil Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church of Ukraine)," with the same Nestor Pysyk appointed as its "holy archimandrite". The OCU has not clarified how these decrees relate to each other or where the new structure will be physically located.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), stated that the authorities should take into account his structure when "they consider how to manage the Pochaiv Lavra after its demoscovization."

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