On March 20, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) held a meeting of its Synod, and after its conclusion, the participants went to the Office of the President of Ukraine to demand a meeting with

and tell him about the patriotism of their church.

The meeting of the Synod took place on the territory of the Kiev-Pyachorskaya Lavra, the lease of which the authorities have been terminating since March 29.

Until now, the working groups have to carry out an inventory of religious and historical values, which were used by the UOC MP.

When the priests led by their leader, Metropolitan

of Kyiv and All Ukraine , approached the President's Office, a representative of the secretariat came to them and offered to pass their appeal to Vladimir Zelensky, but they refused, insisting on an urgent meeting with the head of Ukraine.

The priests are convinced that the president receives false information about the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

"Information about the UOC is distorted and a false image of our believers is created.

We have always advocated constructive relations, tried to develop relations between the state and the UOC.

Such a dialogue is an important aspect related to the development of civil society," said Metropolitan

of Nezhinsky and Prilutskyi .

The priest emphasized that the UOC is a "Church of patriots" that helps the Ukrainian army and believers who defend Ukraine.

"There is no need to isolate ourselves from the citizens of Ukraine.

Believers of the UOC deserve to be heard, and that the state does not treat them as second-class people, so that there is no enmity in society.

We hope that the leaders of our state will be able not only to hear, but also to see what believers do every day for their Motherland," said Metropolitan Kliment.

On March 13, it became known that the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine informed the Ukrainian Orthodox Church about the termination of the agreement on the free use of the Kyiv-Pyachora Lavra from March 29.

The basis for this decision was the recorded violations of the conditions of use of state property.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church called the ministry's warning letter an "ultimatum" and compared it to the actions of the Soviet authorities.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate used the Kiev-Pyachora Lavra on a perpetual lease basis.

Previously, such contracts were signed for a certain period, but during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, the regulatory framework was changed, which allowed signing lease contracts for temples for an unlimited period.

All historical livery of Ukraine, including Kiev-Pyachorskaya, are in state property.

On December 2, 2022, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed a decree on the implementation of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council, which prohibits the activities of religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in Russia in Ukraine.

According to the decree of the president, the government must develop and submit the relevant bill to the parliament within two months.

The only religious organization connected with the Russian Orthodox Church is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is headed by Metropolitan Anufry.

Last May, at the meeting of the Synod of this church, the mention of the Moscow Patriarchate was removed from the charter.

But in society it is still called the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UPC MP).

From the end of November 2022, investigators of the Security Service and the National Police of Ukraine conducted searches in the dioceses of the UOC MP.

According to their results, several priests were accused of justifying Russian aggression against Ukraine.

On December 1, 2022, Ukraine registered the charter of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pyachora Lavra (men's monastery) of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which received Thomas of the Constantinople Church four years ago.

In January of this year, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) received the permission of the Ukrainian authorities to hold the first service in the Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv-Pyachory Lavra.

At the same time, the independent Ukrainian church has not received any premises of the Kiev-Pechora Lavra for permanent use.