This was reported in Telegram by the head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration Vadim Filashkin “A photo exhibition titled 'Heritage Not/Doomed to Destruction' was presented in Donetsk Oblast. It tells the story of the creation of the Sviatohirsk Lavra and the crimes that Russians have committed against the shrine even now during the full-scale invasion,” Filashkin noted He noted that after the presentation in Donetsk region such events will be held jointly with other regional administrations throughout Ukraine “to show that Donetsk region is not only about war and destruction Donetsk region has a rich ancient history closely connected with Ukraine.” this is the first in a series of similar exhibitions Specialists from Donetsk Regional State Administration historians and cultural experts are working on creating exhibitions about other monuments and landmarks destroyed by the occupiers As reported by Ukrinform, an exhibition of recreated Easter eggs from the destroyed Mariupol museum will be held in Kyiv While citing and using any materials on the Internet links to the website ukrinform.net not lower than the first paragraph are mandatory citing the translated materials of foreign media outlets is possible only if there is a link to the website ukrinform.net and the website of a foreign media outlet Materials marked as "Advertisement" or with a disclaimer reading "The material has been posted in accordance with Part 3 of Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" No 1996 and the Law of Ukraine "On the Media" No 2023 and on the basis of an agreement/invoice Online media entity; Media identifier - R40-01421 Pan American determined that the project was "non-core" after completing its acquisition of Yamana Gold in 2022 the project and surrounding exploration ground were considered by Pan American to be "non-core" after the company completed its acquisition of Yamana Gold in 2022 Mineralization was discovered at Lavra Velha in 2010 and the site was explored from 2010 to 2013 The project covers 55,000 hectares in Brazil's Bahia state Lavra Velha has a NI 43-101 resource estimate of 9.2 million tonnes at 1.76 grams per tonne (g/t) gold for 520,000 ounces That includes an indicated resource of 4.5 million tonnes at 1.96 g/t gold for 282,000 ounces as well as an inferred resource of 4.7 million tonnes at 1.56 g/t gold for 238,000 ounces “We are very excited about the proposed acquisition of the Lavra Velha Gold-Copper Project," Alvo Managing Director Rob Smakman said in a Monday (March 31) announcement adding that the property is complementary to the company's Palma copper-zinc project He also commented positively on current gold and copper market dynamics The company plans to update Lavra Velha's NI 43-101 resource to meet JORC standards. Among other adjustments, it will use the current gold price instead of the previous US$1,650 per ounce price Alvo will be opening an entitlement offer to raise up to AU$3.5 million among its shareholders the amount is proposed to cover the US$1 million upfront cash payment portion of the transaction along with initial exploration of Lavra Velha The entitlement offer is set to open to eligible Alvo shareholders on Friday (April 4) Completion of the transaction with Pan American is subject to Alvo’s satisfaction of due diligence and the execution of an asset purchase agreement The due diligence completion has a 45 day exclusivity period Shares of Alvo rose as high as AU$0.066 following the announcement up 10 percent from the firm's previous AU$0.06 close a 1.47 percent dip from its US$25.94 close last week According to Global Business Reports’ Brazil Mining 2024 report mining in Brazil continues to be fueled by iron ore but is slowly seeing diversification through a growing number of gold Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article Get the trends and expert predictions you need to stay ahead of the markets Learn About Exciting Investing Opportunities in the Precious Metals Sector Gabbie graduated with a journalism degree from Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Manila and has produced articles on a variety of topics Her creative portfolio includes written work on architecture Gabbie covers the Australian market for the Investing News Network exploring the international coffee culture and fighting for queer rights Investing News Network websites or approved third-party tools use cookies. Please refer to the cookie policy for collected data Writer Learn about our editorial policies. World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev Dr Jerry Pillay and WCC moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm are urging caution with regard to a law passed by the Ukrainian Rada which bans the activities of religious organizations associated with Russia in Ukraine During a solidarity visit to Ukraine in 2022 the WCC delegation visited Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra “The government of Ukraine has the sovereign right and responsibility to defend the nation’s territorial integrity and to protect its citizens even more so in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion and armed aggression,” said Pillay and Bedford-Strohm The World Council of Churches has consistently condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine and “we remain steadfast in that position,” they said “Ukrainian authorities have a right to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence and to prosecute individuals guilty of crimes against the interests of Ukraine.” At the same time “the WCC is deeply alarmed by the potential for unjustified collective punishment of an entire religious community and violation of the principles of freedom of religion or belief under a new law approved by the Ukrainian Rada on 20 August 2024.” The new law now awaits the signature of President Zelensky “We call again on the Ukrainian government to exercise caution in relation to measures that risk violating the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief and undermining social cohesion at this time of national emergency,” said Pillay and Bedford-Strohm. “We note the six-step process prescribed by the new law before a religious organisation can be banned and plead that there be a fair and unbiased approach to any such investigation and that due consideration be given to the principles of international law and due process in undertaking any actions under this new law.” They concluded: “Neither the crimes of some individuals nor the historical affiliations of a particular religious entity can be a sufficient basis for measures tantamount to collective punishment of a living worshipping religious community in Ukraine The government of Ukraine is responsible for protecting the rights of all its citizens.” Read the full statement Please fill in this form if you would like to receive news and updates from the WCC by email Ecumenical CentreKyoto BuildingChemin du Pommier 42CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex a cross was consecrated and installed on the Trinity Gate Church This is part of a complex of restoration works to preserve the ancient temple in its original form, transmits Public Restoration work to preserve the Trinity Gate Church began back in 2019 and was suspended at the beginning of the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine the restoration of the church cross was completed The Trinity Church is one of the few buildings on the territory of the Lavra that has survived practically without reconstruction since the times of Ukrainian Rus it was decorated in the Ukrainian Baroque style The Ministry of Culture does not have the capacity to evacuate museum treasures from frontline territories Another 120-year-old manor house is being demolished in Kyiv An architectural monument and a congress center were damaged as a result of the strike on Sumy +380 (44) 465 53 41 +380 (67) 638 76 00 hello@pragmatika.media https://pragmatika.media Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker This was reported by the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in Kyiv “Rescuers removed the collapsed cross from the dome of the church we received a report of the need for assistance in Lavrsky Lane the rescuers found that a cross had partially collapsed on the dome of a church the rescuers used an articulating boom lift carefully cut the wire and safely lowered it to the ground,” the agency said At the same time, the National Reserve of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra notes that the cross from the All Saints Church which is part of the architectural ensemble of the monastery could have been damaged as a result of blast waves seismic vibrations and vibration caused by the shelling of the capital the cross will soon be restored and reinstalled “In order to prevent further destruction the cross was safely dismantled from the All Saints Church The dismantling was carried out by rescuers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine under the coordination of Yakov Dikhtyar chief architect of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve the cross will be restored and put back in place,” the institution informs The reserve adds that the All Saints' Church, like the entire complex of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in danger The monument has been in need of comprehensive restoration since the 1980s UNESCO joined the development of scientific and project documentation as part of the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust project “Support to Ukraine in the field of culture and education through UNESCO” It is noted that the project provides not only for damage assessment and protection of monuments UNESCO representatives supported the initiative to install sensors to monitor the condition of the All Saints Church They will help monitor the impact of blast waves from Russian shelling As reported by Ukrinform, the National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” has begun the procedure of returning to the ownership of one of the buildings that has long been in the free use of the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments The Church of All Saints in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was included in the list of cultural monuments that will be restored within the framework of the UNESCO project and the Japanese Trust Fund.  About this told in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve "Ukraine received a grant for the restoration of cultural monuments damaged by the war the list includes not only objects destroyed by Russian shelling but also buildings that may suffer irreparable damage in wartime," the report says Church of All Saints in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Photo: National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" The Church of All Saints of the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" was not damaged by the devastating bombings which we can lose if we do not take urgent measures," the reserve said UNESCO will announce a competition for the adjustment of project documentation and during this time not only the state of the church deteriorated but also new methods of researching the state of monuments and restoration appeared The project of restoration of the church involves three stages: updating of documentation priority conservation of painting and carrying out restoration works during which new data must be collected and analyzed The Kyiv City Council transferred the land for permanent use to the reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" A 3D model of underground caves was digitized and created at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra In the Lviv region, the Zhevusky-Lantskoronsky palace was digitized the Church commemorates Venerable Hilarion the Great and Hilarion the Schema-monk of the Caves The early Divine Liturgy on this Sunday was celebrated in the Exaltation of the Cross Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra The service was led by the dean of the monastery with the concelebration of the monastery clergy In the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” the Liturgy was celebrated by the keeper of the Near Caves special petitions were offered for the gift of peace and tranquility in our Ukrainian land for deliverance from every enemy and adversary and for God’s blessing upon those who have taken in people forced to leave their homes fervent prayers were also offered for Archimandrite Hilarion who on this day celebrated the feast of his heavenly patron notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter To signed up and receive Lavra’s emails and important news once a week You will be able to unsubscribe from emails at any time On the day of the Feast of the Laudation of the Theotokos a video conversation took place between the Abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chernobyl The Patriarch conveyed his blessing and expressed words of support to the Abbot and the brotherhood the hierarchs congratulated each other on the approaching great Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and asked for holy prayers Join the acclaimed United Choir of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra and the Moscow Theological Academy for two enchanting evenings of music The first performance will be held on 19 November 2024 at 6.30 pm at Mammen Mappillai Hall followed by a second concert on 20 November at 7 pm at Parumala Church Known for their soul-stirring harmonies and powerful depth this celebrated choir brings a rich mix of Slavonic and Russian compositions that have captivated audiences around the world Honouring the legacy of church music masters who contributed timeless pieces to the Holy Church of Christ Under the direction of the inspiring Hieromonk Nestor the musical evenings will feature the choir’s finest vocalists delivering passionate performances rich in cultural and musical depth Presented by the Sruthi School of Music at the Orthodox Theological Seminary this is an event not to be missed by anyone seeking an experience of beauty and inspiration on the eve of the commemoration day of the uncovering of the venerable relics of St His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' celebrated the All-night Vigil on the Cathedral square of the Lavra The festive service was celebrated in front of the venerated icon of St A platform was built on the Cathedral square and an altar under the canopy was installed in front of the Lavra’s Cathedral of the Dormition for celebrating All-Night Vigil and the Divine Liturgy on the feast day Concelebrating with His Holiness were eight metropolitans and an assembly of archbishops and bishops as well as four archimandrites of the Lavra and other brethren The liturgical chants were sung by the joint choir of the Lavra and the Moscow theological academy conducted by hieromonk Nestor (Volkov) the first deputy managing director of the Russian Railways A great many pilgrims prayed during the service The patriarchal service was broadcast live on the Soyuz and Spas TV channels the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church The All-night Vigil was also celebrated by Metropolitan Dimitry of Tobolsk and Tyumen in the church of the Intercession at the Academy and by Metropolitan Rostisav of Tomsk and Asino in the church of St on the feast day of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir and the church and state holiday commemorating the Baptism of Russia President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin visited the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St Accompanied by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia President Putin visited the upper church dedicated to Prince Alexander Nevsky within the Annunciation Church of the Lavra the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church had celebrated the Divine Liturgy in this church offering special petitions and prayers for the health of President Putin The upper church also houses the relics of Prince Alexander Nevsky Patriarch Kirill awarded President Putin the Order of the Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky of the First Degree I sincerely thank you for the substantial efforts you are making to revive the spiritual life of Russia Special thanks for the conditions that the state creates for Orthodox people.” and scientifically developed country that successfully combines scientific and technological progress with an advanced and equitable social system all while respecting the religious faith and spiritual component of its people.” so that you may continue to lead the country and its people without deviating from our historical path adapting it to meet the challenges of contemporary human civilization,” concluded the Patriarch President Putin expressed his gratitude for the high honor bestowed upon him thank you very much for this high church award The Russian Orthodox Church is undoubtedly one of the most important moral foundations of the Russian people Together with other traditional Russian confessions it also serves as the basis of Russian statehood You have done much to strengthen the state today as there is nothing more powerful than a spiritual foundation Patriarch Kirill and President Putin visited the lower church-tomb of the Annunciation Church where they laid flowers at the grave of the great commander A.V one of the holiest sites of Eastern Orthodox Christians Tensions are on the rise at a prominent Orthodox monastery in Kyiv where the monks are facing eviction later this month The Ukrainian government accuses the monks of links to Moscow even though they claim to have severed ties with the Russian Orthodox Church following Russia’s full-scale of invasion of Ukraine A believer holds a candle as she prays at a sarcophagus with holy relics in the underground labyrinth of the Monastery of the Caves People pray at a sarcophagus with a holy relic in the underground labyrinth of the Monastery of the Caves People pray at the entrance to an underground labyrinth with holy relics in the Monastery of the Caves People take free spiritual books at a library of the Monastery of the Caves Metropolitan Clement talks to the Associated Press in the Monastery of the Caves People pray at a sculpture of founding monks of the Monastery of the Caves People pray at sarcophagi with holy relics in the underground labyrinth of the Monastery of the Caves Also busy Friday were people in civilian clothes furniture and other items from the buildings — helping the resident monks remove belongings of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church before a threatened government eviction on March 29 There also were police officers checking the cars to make sure no one was removing items that belong to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra preserve The dispute is part of a wider religious conflict playing out in parallel with the war The parliament is considering a “draft law on making it impossible to operate in Ukraine religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation” — which could impact the UOC The UOC has insisted that it’s loyal to Ukraine has denounced the Russian invasion from the start and has even declared its independence from Moscow But Ukrainian security agencies have claimed that some in the Ukrainian church have maintained close ties with Moscow They’ve raided numerous holy sites of the church and later posted photos of rubles Russian passports and leaflets with messages from the Moscow patriarch as proof that some church officials have been loyal to Russia where a Ukrainian Orthodox priest was filmed talking about the “awakening” of Russia The Ukrainian government has said the Lavra is a hub of “Russian world” propaganda — an ideology touting Moscow’s political and spiritual hegemony over neighboring Slavic lands such as Ukraine But now it’s ordering the Ukrainian Orthodox Church out of the premises entirely The complex has been called the “pearl of Ukraine” and the “Vatican” of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and the agency overseeing the property notified the UOC earlier this month that as of March 29 it was terminating the lease allowing the free use of religious buildings on the property The government claims that the monks violated their lease by making alterations to the historic site and other technical infractions which do not have relevant documents and permits The legality of such new buildings also raises legitimate questions,” Ukraine’s minister of culture “The state must manage what belongs to it.” The monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church dispute this they’re moving out what possessions they can in preparation for a possible forcible eviction “We understand that we will not be given the opportunity to function properly and therefore we need to remove certain things and prevent their destruction,” said Metropolitan Clement the monks said they won’t leave Lavra under any circumstances said lawyers for the UOC appealed to the Ministry of Culture to provide documents explaining its reasons for breaking the agreement the ministry informed them that such documents won’t be provided because they have been marked for official use The government’s eviction order doesn’t explicitly say the monastery could be turned over to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine issued a statement directed at the Lavra monks The eviction won’t put an end to monastery worship and ministry at the complex Metropolitan Epiphany said services will continue and be conducted in their ancient Slavic language along with modern Ukrainian “The current affairs of the monastery will be managed by those who know the traditions and life of the monastery … and who have not tarnished themselves with devotion to the ‘Russian world,’” the metropolitan said Epiphany claimed that the UOC is a “tool of hybrid aggression against Ukraine.” Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture sought to offer similar assurances that Lavra’s monastic life would continue cites the termination of the UOC’s lease as further proof that Russia’s actions over the past year in Ukraine are justified — claiming that Russia is defending a beleaguered Orthodox population head of the Russian Orthodox Church who backed Moscow’s invasion last year has asked Pope Francis and other religious leaders to intervene in the Lavra controversy The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been ultimately loyal to the Moscow patriarch since the 17th century though it has had broad autonomy and has strongly denounced the Russian invasion The independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine received formal recognition in 2019 from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople who has the top position of honor in Orthodoxy but not the universal power of a pope Kirill hasn’t recognized the OCU as legitimate The UOC itself declared full independence from Moscow last year But the OCU and its supporters say that the UOC retains strong ties and sympathies to Moscow The changes in the works at the Lavra received mixed reactions from frequent visitors who were at the complex on Friday who refused to be identified with his last name He said that the UOC is clearly connected to Russia but he personally hadn’t heard any church propaganda and he plans to attend UOC services elsewhere But the changes were welcomed by Oksana Naumenko who has been working for years in the academy located in the Lavra complex She said it fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams of having the singing and prayer at Lavra happen in the Ukrainian language “It is very large-scale and global event in our history It is possible that not everyone realizes this,” she said “But perhaps our children will know at what price our religion and language are being acquired.” Peter Smith contributed to this report from Pittsburgh Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US The AP is solely responsible for this content FILE - A monk and a woman walk inside the Pechersk Lavra monastic complex in Kyiv Ukrainian Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko said Thursday Jan 2023 that the Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church of the nearly 1,000-year-old Pechersk Lavra in the Ukrainian capital have been taken over by the state after the lease of them held by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church expired on Dec FILE - Ukraine’s secret service inspect the Assumption Cathedral in the Pechersk Lavra monastic complex in Kyiv FILE - A bird flies over the sky near the 1000-year old Orthodox Pechersk Lavra monastic complex (Monastery of Caves) in Kyiv FILE - A cross of the Pechersk Lavra monastic complex is seen against background of the Ukrainian national flag and the Motherland Monument in Kyiv Ukrainian priests holding a service before the start of the Orthodox Chrismas in the St Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered Moscow’s armed forces to observe a 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine this weekend for the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy questioned the Kremlin’s intentions accusing the Kremlin of planning the fighting pause “to continue the war with renewed vigor” A girl lights a candle before the start of the Orthodox Christmas in the St Ukraine (AP) — The Ukrainian government has taken the main cathedral of the revered historic monastery from the church previously affiliated with Moscow’s patriarchate and allowed its Ukrainian rival to use it for Orthodox Christmas services Ukrainian Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko said Thursday that the Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church of the nearly 1,000-year-old Pechersk Lavra — also known as Monastery of the Caves — in the Ukrainian capital have been taken over by the state after the lease of them held by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) expired on Dec Tkachenko said that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) — the similarly named rival church — asked for and was granted permission to conduct the service at the cathedral on Saturday when Orthodox Christmas is celebrated the Orthodox Church of Ukraine received recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Moscow’s and most other Orthodox patriarchs refused to accept that designation that formalized a split with the Russian church which remained loyal to the Moscow patriarch since the 17th century declared independence from Moscow’s Patriarchate after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine The UOC gave Moscow a liturgical cold shoulder by dropping the commemoration of Moscow Patriarch Kirill as its leader in public worship and blessing its own sacramental oil rather than use Moscow’s supply But Ukrainian security agencies have claimed that it has maintained close ties with Moscow They have conducted numerous raids of the church’s holy sites Russian passports and leaflets with messages from the Moscow patriarch Prominent Ukrainian Orthodox Church leaders have rejected the allegations of ties with Moscow insisting that they have loyally supported Ukraine from the start of the war and that a government crackdown will only hand a propaganda coup to Russia Russian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill called on believers to pray “for our brothers in Ukraine who are being expelled today from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra which for centuries has been the guardian of true An official website of the United States government VA|News Air Force Veteran Rosaire Bushey is the public affairs officer at the Salem VA Health Care System Veteran of the Day Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran John Lavra servicemembers to see service in World War II John Lavra was called to active duty two days later and went on to become one of only 171,000 U.S Lavra flew more than 5,300 hours in more than 22 types of aircraft from propeller-engine fighters and cargo planes to jets the 95-year old will waste no time in telling you which was his favorite: “the Spad.” 18-cylinder attack plane will forever be linked to Lavra he launched from the deck of the USS Essex and 69 years later his voice speeds up in the retelling of his longest day “I got hit at something like 10,000 feet and couldn’t get out of the damned airplane ‘what the hell do you think I’m trying to do here’?” Lavra’s ordeal is documented in his Navy Survival Report dated Nov where he describes with precise military detail the events of the day “The next thing I know there was flame all over I grabbed the stick with both hands and tried to keep the airplane flying; I tried to … gain as much altitude as possible … As soon as she whipped into a left spin I realized I wouldn’t be able to do anything with it I remember looking for the canopy release handle … I pulled it back – the canopy came open with no strain The fire increased quite a bit then and the heat was something terrific I tried not to breathe any flames if I could help it I felt as if I was hung up or that the plane had slapped me back in the cockpit because I fell back in a sitting position I started to look down to see if anything was holding me and about that time …                        It came right at my face so I sort of turned and shut my eyes – when I opened my eyes again I noticed my goggles were gone and so was most everything else but I … didn’t know how much altitude I’d lost I reached for the D ring and couldn’t find it … I couldn’t see it or any part of my harness (I’d bailed out once before at El Centro and received a heavy jolt I had just started to reach for the risers when I hit.” Today Lavra has six children, 18 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. His daughter Valerie Lavra was a nurse at the Salem VA Medical Center for 17 years You can read the whole story in the Fall issue of Salem’s Vet Quarterly Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission KoreaNavyVietnamworld war ii The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA or call 1-800-698-2411 never put personally identifiable information (SSAN etc.) or protected health information into the form — it will be deleted for your protection This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Army Veteran Cruz Roque-Vicens Roque-Vicens went on to have a successful career as a sports journalist this week's #HonoringVeterans spotlight honors the service of Army Veteran and NPS employee Charles Barr This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Army Veteran Albert Tristan Get more resources at VeteransCrisisLine.net An official website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Looking for U.S. government information and services?  Visit USA.gov By Elisabeth Braw Engelsberg Ideas it may outlast the conflict as a shell of its former self — a stark reminder to future generations of the horrors caused by war More than 130 Ukrainian churches have now fallen victim to Russia’s invasion All Saints had already been shelled by Russians once.  Ukrainians will return to their damaged or destroyed homes because that is what people do after wars end because life needs to go on. And All Saints monastery Rebuilding the wooden church that dates back to the 1600s will require significant funds and architectural skills possessed by only a few specialists The monks and people of Sviatohirsk face spending a long time with its skeleton in their midst.  Dresdeners and visitors had to endure the sight of the church-turned-rubble — a painful reminder of the brutality of war were reminded of the war daily by the rubble of their cathedral and foes of the modernist structure that replaced it might argue the new church was deliberately made so ugly that people would never forget the Second World War which were sanctified at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra2 October 1:00 PM EESTA special ceremony was held at the National Kyiv-Pechersk Preserve to introduce a distinctive initiative to bring back a tradition of Ukrainian military icons The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine supports the project The initiative to revive the Lavra School of Iconography started in 2024 to rejuvenate the ancient practice of Baroque iconography that has fueled the spirits of warriors for centuries it is planned to craft and present an icon for each combat brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine the vicegerent of the Holy Dormition Kyiv Pechersk Lavra who stressed the importance of spiritual support in times of war The sanctified icons were handed over to three AFU Brigades: the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade “Polissia” the 96th Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade “Kyivska” and the Separate Presidential Brigade “Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi” Depicted in the icons for three military brigades are the patron saints of warriors considered the heavenly protector of the Ukrainian army Icon-painters Liliia Belska and Yurii Huzenko spent several months working on these icons reproducing the authentic techniques of 18th-century Lavra icon-painting while incorporating national and sacred symbols The icons were crafted in line with the military units' heraldry BETAThe functionality works in the mode of experimental operation Poland will hold presidential elections on May 18 as the country faces key debates over social policy and national security that could shape its political trajectory The annual report said Russia is using aggressive tactics such as unauthorized airspace incursions and close encounters with NATO ships and aircraft including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones located about 70 kilometers northwest of Donetsk remains one of the most fiercely contested sectors of the front where Russia has concentrated its main offensive efforts since March  (Updated:  May 6, 2025 11:41 am)Ukraine's drones target Moscow second night in a row, Russian official claims, ahead of Victory Day parade. Debris from one of the drones reportedly fell on the Kashirskoye Highway The reported attack comes just days before Russia's Victory Day parade and three-day "truce." Vice President Mike Pence said Putin "only understands power." About 800 million euros ($905 million) will be allocated for the acquisition and installation of anti-tank mines to deter potential aggression  (Updated:  May 6, 2025 9:36 am)War analysisFrance is sending Ukraine more AASM Hammer bombs — here's what they can do Polish President Andrzej Duda said the United States has tools that can effectively influence the Kremlin arguing that only President Donald Trump has real leverage over Russian President Vladimir Putin The number includes 1,430 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day "To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement" by Benjamin Nathans which covers dissent in the Soviet Union and Russia today Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on May 5 announced they had facilitated Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash's escape from Russia to France after she fled house arrest on April 21 by Martin FornusekOrthodox Monks in procession at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on July 6 (Andriy Zhyhaylo/Obozrevatel/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)Editor's note: The article was updated after a public confirmation by the SBU The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) began conducting searches at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (monastery) on Feb was also charged with allegedly organizing "mass provocations," the SBU added was leased to the Moscow Patriarchate-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC-MP) before authorities ordered the restoration of the Lavra's property to the state last year The SBU said that the search was related to an unnamed Metropolitan Pavlo's associate who allegedly collaborated with a known Russian propagandist to instigate demonstrations in 2023 The individual in question also justified Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and "praised" Russia's military and political leadership After 2022 searches of the UOC-MP's premises uncovered pro-Kremlin propaganda and other evidence of pro-Russian sympathies, the government took steps to remove the UOC-MP from controlling the Lavra After the termination of the lease, the Culture Ministry ordered the church members to vacate the Lavra in March 2023. The clergymen contested the order and even blocked authorities from accessing the monastery which appears to be part of the actions that the SBU referred to as a "mass provocation." In August 2023, a court ordered the UOC-MP to return the Lavra's property to the state The SBU said that the individual in question faces several charges and could serve prison time if convicted Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies will reappear after a four-week absence when he begins from the No 1 barrier in the $31,000 Catalano Truck and Equipment Sales Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night but star reinsman Kyle Harper gives the Ray Jones-trained gelding a good chance of beating champion four-year-old Never Ending who will be on trial for a start in the $200,000 Golden Nugget the following Friday night when he resumes racing after a 13-week absence he will be very hard to beat,” said Harper Harper’s wife Lauren handled Lavra Joe in a 2100m mobile trial at Bunbury last Friday night which was virtually a one-horse affair with the other starter Miki Windermere being an unraced three-year-old colt who trailed Lavra Joe by some 100 metres throughout Lavra Joe was not extended at any stage when he covered the final four 400m sections in 30.4sec. “I watched the workout which was a one-horse trial,” said Kyle Harper Lavra Joe last appeared in a race when he was an $81 outsider from the outside barrier (No 9) on the front line in the WA Pacing Cup on November 8 He was 11TH at the bell and was hampered by a tiring horse before finally getting clear and finishing strongly into sixth place behind Minstrel “We went to the rail and drove him quietly because he hadn’t been racing up to his best But he had no luck and got dragged back before finally he came home via the cape and finished strongly with a fast last half.” including a Gloucester Park record of 17 starts for 13 wins for outstanding Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice will start from the outside barrier in the field of seven Never Ending will be having his first start since finishing eighth behind Don Hugo in the TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7 and it is a difficult race to line up,” said Hall I visualise Never Ending racing in the one-out “I think he could struggle first-up to beat the best version of Lavra Joe.” Hall has several other solid winning prospects on Friday night Mandown (race five) and Penny Black (race seven) “I think Mikis Beach is the best horse in the race and I’m happy to lead or breeze,” said Hall “Franklin Delano has received no favours from the draw (barrier No His second to Tualou at his last start was good while Penny Black (trained by Michael Young) should prove hard to beat.” and he reported that the four-year-old mare had pulled up in good shape after working hard in the breeze and getting up to snatch victory from the pacemaker Insta Gator over 2130m at a 1.54.9 rate last Friday night “Penny Black has had no luck when it comes to barrier draws,” said Young who also prepares Acushla Machree (barrier one) 5) should fight out the finish in a race in which Little Darling (barrier three) has been a nemesis of ours Acushla Machree has led and won at Narrogin and Gloucester Park at her past two starts Astute Henley Brook trainer Mike Reed is confident that comeback pacer Ragazzo Mach will prove hard to beat when he starts from the No 5 barrier in the Catalano Truck and Equipment Sales Ugga Dugga Pace “Ragazzo Mach was a most unlucky sixth behind Whataretheodds last Friday night,” said Reed “Shannon (Suvaljko) said he was bolting and would have won if he had got out He has had two nice easy runs (after a first-up second to Jawsoflincoln) and they will know he’s there on Friday night.” KYIV — Near the entrance to the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra an 11th-century Orthodox cave monastery complex in the heart of the city Wednesday is the deadline for the monastery’s 1,000 inhabitants to leave what was their home amid heightened political concerns that some of them were too close to Moscow The police inspected the departing vehicles to ensure that none was loaded with the more than 800 icons crosses and other priceless artifacts stored within the religious complex Three women — all inhabitants of the Lavra — sat on a bench not far from the lower caves of the monastery One asked her comrades: “Where are we going to sleep “It’s as if they are taking our home,” another of the women told POLITICO and others like you for playing with his will,” she said angrily The high-profile eviction is just the latest installment in the bitter schism dividing Orthodox believers in Ukraine Moscow’s satrap in Ukraine. This left the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) The expulsions from the Lavra technically come as part of the termination of a 10-year-old agreement on the free use of religious buildings and other state-owned property that the monastery signed in 2013. This was brought to an end after a special government commission found out about numerous violations of the rent terms by the holy tenants because of anger in Ukraine that some clergy from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church collaborated with Russian invaders We are taking some things out just in case there will be some forceful eviction or capture Just to make sure that at least shrines and other things are not damaged,” Archbishop Iona the head of the youth department at the church “Now the caves are full of people, praying There was no open call for the defense of the Lavra Ukraine’s Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko ordered the monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to leave all premises of the Lavra, but said that Ukrainian authorities would not use force against the monks if they miss the deadline. He also said if the monks want to stay they just need to transfer their allegiance to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine more than 1,236 religious communities and monasteries have announced the transition from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Only some 4 percent of the Orthodox faithful now identify with the Moscow Patriarchate according to a study by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology think-tank Most of the clerics from Lavra Moscow Patriarchate Church still do not recognize the Orthodox Church of Ukraine even though Constantinople’s Patriarch Bartholomew granted it independence in 2019 Metropolitan Onufriy of the Russian-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church claims his church is the only genuine one in Ukraine As soon as the Russian full-scale invasion began the Ukrainian Orthodox Church announced it had parted ways with the Russian Patriarchate and stopped praying for Russian Patriarch Kirill “It was Cain’s murder of his brother Abel,” Iona said mirroring the Russian narrative about Ukraine and Russia being “brotherly nations.” However, in November 2022 a video from a prayer in Lavra appeared where parishioners were praying for Russia Last year, the Security Service of Ukraine, also known as the SBU, conducted searches in various buildings of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate the SBU is investigating some 60 criminal proceedings against pro-Russian clerics from the Moscow Patriarchate many of whom are suspected of collaboration with the Russian occupying army in various regions.   “Only a few priests have indeed collaborated It is not right to apply collective guilt to a church There were also collaborators among SBU and other organs But the government chose to attack the church,” Archbishop Iona said adding that collaborators could be found in every sphere even including within the ranks of the SBU Just days before the deadline for the monks to leave the spiritual head of the world’s Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew hardened his stance towards the Moscow Patriarchate saying during a trip to Vilnius that Russia’s Orthodox Church shared responsibility for the conflict in Ukraine “The church and the state leadership in Russia cooperated in the crime of aggression and shared the responsibility for the resulting crimes like the shocking abduction of the Ukrainian children,” Bartholomew said on March 22 during a conference the Lithuanian capital In what was taken as a clear criticism of Russian Patriarch Kirill Bartholomew said the Kremlin has been using the Moscow church as an “instrument for their strategic objectives.” president has previously described such a pact as reimbursement for billions in American aid sent to help Kyiv against Russia’s full-scale invasion Ukraine has created a macabre points scheme based on video games to boost the effectiveness of its soldiers Kyiv fumes over Russia’s Victory Day ceasefire plan ‘Good meeting,’ Ukrainian leader said after one-on-one in St The White House called it “a very productive discussion.” The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra now houses a dismantled fragment of a wall with the work of the world-famous street artist Banksy About this reported the press service of the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" The graffiti with the image of a woman with a fire extinguisher and curlers on her head was intended to draw attention to the brutality of Russian aggression the work was preserved and is now in the so-called "open funds" of the Lavra Next to Banksy's modern work you can see ancient Russian graffiti of the 1950th century - a caricature of one of the builders of the Assumption Cathedral This combination of ancient and modern art makes it possible to trace the duration of the cultural struggle for the preservation of Ukrainian identity The exact location of Banksy's graffiti in the Lavra is not revealed - visitors are invited to find it on their own "Look for Banksy in the Lavra to see how his anti-war protest finds a place in a thousand-year-old shrine," says the reserve Banksy is a name recognized around the world although his true identity remains a mystery political activist and director from Great Britain he became a symbol of protest and irony embodied in graffiti Starting out as a vandal who decorated the walls of British streets in the 90s Banksy has become an artist whose works are now valued at tens of millions of dollars at auctions in the UK and America His fans do not seek to reveal the identity of the artist because for them his art is more important - bold provocative and always with a strong social message Learn about the most important news and events in Kyiv The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development Our Partners Donate Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information Designed to rival Hagia Sophia in Constantinople Kyiv's Saint-Sophia Cathedral symbolizes the 'new Constantinople' capital of the Christian principality of Kyiv which was created in the 11th century in a region evangelized after the baptism of St Vladimir in 988 The spiritual and intellectual influence of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra contributed to the spread of Orthodox thought and the Orthodox faith in the Russian world from the 17th to the 19th century Conçue pour rivaliser avec l'église Sainte-Sophie de Constantinople la cathédrale Sainte-Sophie de Kyiv symbolise la « nouvelle Constantinople » capitale de la principauté chrétienne créée au XIe siècle dans une région évangélisée après le baptême de saint Vladimir en 988 Le rayonnement spirituel et intellectuel de la laure de Kyiv-Petchersk contribua largement à la diffusion de la foi et de la pensée orthodoxes dans le monde russe aux XVIIe ترمز كاتدرائية القديسة صوفيا في كييف التي تم تصميمها لمنافسة كنيسة آية صوفيا في القسطنطينية الى "القسطنطينية الجديدة" التي اصبحت عاصمة الإمارة المسيحية الناشئة في القرن الحادي عشر في منطقة تم تنصيرها بعد عمادة القديس فلاديمير عام 988 وقد ساهم الإشعاع الروحي والفكري الخاص بدير لافرا كييف بيشيرسكا على نحو ملحوظ في نشر المذهب الأورثوذكسي في العالم الروسي طوال القرون السابع والثامن والتاسع عشر 基辅的圣·索菲娅教堂的设计可与君士坦丁堡的圣·索菲娅教堂媲美，象征着“新君士坦丁堡”，它建于11世纪，是基辅基督公国的首都。这一地区于988年经圣·法拉蒂米尔洗礼后基督化。基辅-拉夫拉在精神和文化上的影响对东正教思想在俄罗斯17世纪至19世纪的传播做出了贡献。 Призванный стать соперником храма Айя-София в Константинополе Софийский собор символизировал становление Киева – столицы христианского княжества вскоре после крещения Руси (988 г.) при князе Владимире Духовное и интеллектуальное влияние Киево-Печерской лавры способствовало распространению православной культуры и православной веры на Руси в период с XVII до XIX вв Proyectada para rivalizar con Santa Sofía de Constantinopla la catedral Santa Sofía de la capital ucraniana es el símbolo de la “Nueva Constantinopla” denominación dada a la capital del principado de Kiev creado en el siglo XI en una región evangelizada después del bautismo de San Vladimir en el año 988 La influencia espiritual e intelectual del monasterio de Kievo-Petchersk contribuyó considerablemente a la propagación de la fe y el pensamiento ortodoxos en el mundo ruso entre los siglos XVII y XIX The Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra represent two outstanding complexes of cultural heritage monuments from the Middle Ages and Early Modern period (Kyivan Rus’ and Hetmanate Periods) The property consists of two separate components: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and its related monastic buildings and the monastic complex of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra with the Church of the Saviour at Berestovo is one of the major monuments representing the architectural and the monumental art of the early 11th century The Cathedral was built with the participation of local builders and Byzantine masters during the reign of the Great Prince of Kyiv as the main Christian Church of the Kyivan Rus’ capital The Cathedral has preserved its ancient interiors and the collection of mosaics and frescoes of the 11th century is unique for its integrity The architecture and monumental art of the Cathedral had a wide influence on the architecture and decoration of the Kyivan Rus’ temples Monastic buildings constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries in the Ukrainian Baroque style surround the Cathedral The architectural ensemble includes the bell tower the cells of cathedral elders and the seminary encircled by a stone wall the Cathedral and monastic buildings have expressed a unique harmony of architectural and natural forms  and national spirit and have held a significant place in the traditional historic landscape of Kyiv The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is an architectural ensemble of monastic buildings situated on the plateau overlooking the right bank of the Dnieper River The ensemble was formed over many centuries in organic combination with the landscape the monastery became a prominent spiritual and cultural centre that made a significant contribution to the development of education The architectural ensemble of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra comprises unique surface and underground churches from the 11th to the 19th centuries in a complex of labyrinthine caves that expands more than 600m as well as domestic and household buildings from the 17th to the19th centuries The architectural ensemble acquired its modern aspect as a result of construction activities in the 17th to the 18th centuries in the heyday of the Ukrainian Baroque The main monuments of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra ensemble are the Dormition Cathedral the Exaltation of the Cross and the Nativity of the Virgin and the Church of the Saviour on Berestovo has been one of the most important Christian pilgrimage centres in the world Criterion (i): Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings Kyiv­-Pechersk Lavra represents a masterpiece of human creative genius in both its architectural conception and its remarkable decoration Saint-Sophia Cathedral is a unique monument of architecture and monumental art of the early 11th century having the biggest preserved collection of mosaics and frescoes of that period The Cathedral’s architecture is distinguished by supplementary naves added to the five-nave core and pyramidal spatial composition of the cross dome church The monumental decoration of the Cathedral composes an ensemble unique for its conceptual design that reflects the major theological ideas of the time and is an outstanding example of Byzantine art The huge pantheon of Christian saints depicted in the Cathedral has an unrivalled multiplicity among Byzantine monuments of that time The mural paintings of the Cathedral also include a complex of unique secular frescoes in the stair towers made in the tradition of Byzantine art The ensemble of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a masterpiece of Ukrainian art that was definitely formed during the Baroque period It integrates unique surface and underground buildings and structures of the 11th-19th centuries combined with a rich landscape Criterion (ii): The property is a result of the cultural interaction of the Kyivan Rus’ Architecture and monumental painting at the property reflect the changes of Byzantine architectural and artistic traditions that acquired a new sense under the influence of local vision in spiritual tradition as well as in architectural planning encompassing the tradition of underground Orthodox cult architecture of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra The Dormition Cathedral was an example for the construction of similar churches in the Eastern Europe region during the 12th to15th centuries Criterion (iii): Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings Kyiv­-Pechersk Lavra bears exceptional testimony to the centuries-old Byzantine cultural traditions of neighbouring countries in general and of Kyivan Rus’ in particular Over the centuries the property had a major spiritual influence in Eastern Europe Criterion (iv): Saint-Sophia Cathedral is a unique edifice that reflects in its architecture and mural decoration the peculiarities of churchwarden order The construction of the Cathedral laid the foundation of an architectural school that influenced the cult architecture and monumental art of Kyivan Rus’ and then of Eastern Europe Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is an exceptionally valuable architectural ensemble formed over the course of almost nine centuries which reflects changes in stylistic trends in architecture as well as the process of the improvement of engineering structures All important elements and attributes necessary to convey the Outstanding Universal Value are contained within the boundaries of the property and are preserved Saint-Sophia Cathedral was built as a dominant architectural element of the urban environment open to a wide and overall view the setting of the Cathedral changed due to the modification of the traditional urban fabric The integrity of the ensemble of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra suffered during the Second World War the Cathedral was reconstructed according to the architectural forms of the period of the Ukrainian Baroque in the late 18th century With regards to the hydrogeological conditions the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra caves require a constant monitoring over the state of their preservation and the implementation of preventive measures and the lack of protection and planning mechanisms can threaten the immediate surroundings of the property The integrity of the property in terms of spatial links between its components and their relationship with the surrounding urban and monastic river landscapes also requires a structured planning to address any potential threat The property’s attributes reflect its Outstanding Universal Value All built elements are restored by using original materials Reconstruction works undertaken at Saint-Sophia were awarded the “European Gold Medal for the Protection of Historic Monuments” in 1987 Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings are used as a museum for educational purposes and for state events Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is used for museum purposes as well as for religious practices that correspond to its original purpose Although the dominance of the silhouette of the ensemble has been diminished by urban development the traditional panoramas and silhouettes of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra along the Dnieper River are preserved Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was declared a “State historical and cultural reserve” in 1926 and Saint-Sophia Cathedral with Related Monastic buildings in 1934 The property is managed according to the relevant legislation including the Laws of Ukraine “On Protection of Cultural Heritage” “On Protection of Archaeological Heritage” various Decrees of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine are providing the site-specific legal framework for the protection The National Conservation Area “Saint-Sophia of Kyiv” and the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve are managed by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine which is now responsible for the unified operational management of the whole property According to the national legislation Plans of the Territory Organization of both components of the property (National Conservation Area “Saint-Sophia of Kyiv” and Kyiv-Pechersk National Historical and Cultural Reserve) were developed These plans define the boundaries and regimes for the buffer zone of the property conservation and protection of the property The above-mentioned plans correspond to the Conservation Plan territories and engineering systems of the property are approved at the national level In order to secure the preservation of the Varangian caves a draft conservation program and an action plan have been developed for those sections of the caves that require preventive and rehabilitation measures To address conservation and management challenges the Management Plan will need to be fully operational Enforcement of legislative and regulatory measures will be crucial to ensure that the Outstanding Universal Value of the property is sustained Planning tools will need to be coordinated to ensure that a policy based on studies of the urban landscape and defined views is in place to control development within the buffer zone and its wider setting Inscription Year on the List of World Heritage in Danger Zelensky has given the monks of Kiev’s most sacred Orthodox monastery until next week to evacuate Tens of thousands of Kiev residents took to the streets earlier this week in protest and prayer The reason was an announcement on March 10 by the Zelensky government that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) would have to relinquish control of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra a large monastery complex that includes the Holy Dormition cathedral and monastery The monks have been given until March 29 to leave The lavra was founded in 1051 and is the spiritual home of Orthodoxy in Ukraine It fell into disrepair during the Soviet era The Holy Dormition cathedral was turned into an anti-religious museum and many structures in the complex were destroyed the UOC slowly repaired the damaged buildings and rebuilt the lavra into a thriving religious site It is that church that the government is now evicting The Zelensky government says that Orthodox Ukrainians are still free to worship with the smaller The OCU was set up during the Poroshenko years as a nationalist scheme by thoroughly uncanonical means that are still not recognized by many other Orthodox churches (including the Orthodox Church of America the canonicity of the Church and its unity are central to worship Perhaps the best parallel would be when Maoist China offered Catholics the chance to join the Communist-affiliated Catholic Patriotic Association which did not accept the primacy of the Roman pontiff Everyone realized that this was no substitute.  The 200 monks and 300 seminarians who make the Kiev monastery their home have vowed they will not be forcefully removed when the March 29 deadline comes, one saying, “It is our shrine, our home, we will not leave it of our own free will.” The Zelensky government’s culture minister, Oleksandr Tkachenko, has said that there are no plans to use violence to evict the monks according to Archbishop Victor Kotsaba of Baryshivka of the UOC independent “radicals” will descend on the lavra when the deadline arrives.  “The brotherhood are not prepared to abandon the monastery come March 29 as this is not based on any laws they will come to the lavra to evict the brotherhood by force,” he says “Unless the government acts to bring order and safety there will be a clash and confrontation For that reason we hope that the government will correctly act in this matter.” Archbishop Victor appealed to the government to stand for basic religious freedom: The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the church of the Ukrainian people We have categorically condemned Russian invasion of Ukraine and supported our sovereignty We hope the Ukrainian government will support human rights to allow its citizens the freedom of conscience The UOC’s governing body met on Monday and all nine members went as a group to seek a meeting with President Zelensky Zelensky’s press secretary told them they would not be seen.  The United States funds the Zelensky government Unless we act now and ensure our tax dollars are not used to pay for religious persecution next week Kiev will be filled with videos of loyal Ukrainians being arrested simply for wanting the right to pray according to their consciences What better propaganda videos for Putin will there be than that?  Tim Andrews is a free market advocate in Washington Your support helps us continue our mission of providing thoughtful we can maintain our commitment to principled reporting on the issues that matter most This is a fine example of a working Orthodox monastery with military features that are typical of the 15th to the 18th century the Cathedral of the Assumption (echoing the Kremlin Cathedral of the same name) Among the treasures of the Lavra is the famous icon Ce site est un exemple exceptionnel d'un ensemble monastique orthodoxe complet en activité avec une fonction militaire caractéristique de sa période de développement du XVe au XVIIIe siècle qui rappelle la cathédrale du même nom au Kremlin Parmi les trésors de la laure figure la célèbre icône de la Trinité d'Andreï Roublev يُشكّل هذا الموقع مثلاً استثنائياً على مجموعة أديرة أرثوذكسيّة كاملة لا تزال ناشطةً وقد أدّت في حقبة تطوّرها بين القرنين الخامس والثامن عشر وظيفةً عسكريّة وأول كنائس الدير الشرقي هي كاتدرائية الصعود التي تذكّر بكاتدرائيّة الكرملين التي تحمل الاسم نفسه والتي تضمّ مقبرة بوريس غودونوف ومن بين كنوز هذا الدير أيقونة الثالوث الأقدس الشهيرة لأندري روبليف 这是一座极其典型的东正教修道院，是15世纪至18世纪期间发展起来的带有军事特征的典例。拉夫拉教堂是谢尔吉圣三的主教堂，是圣母升天的主要场所，与克里姆林宫大教堂同名，内有鲍里斯·戈东诺夫的墓地。在大教堂众多的珍品中，比较有名的是著名画家安德烈·鲁比洛夫的壁画《三圣图》。 Это яркий пример действующего православного монастыря что вполне соответствовало духу времени его формирования – XV-XVIII вв созданном по образу и подобию одноименного собора Московского Кремля Среди сокровищ лавры знаменитая икона «Троица» работы Андрея Рублева La laura es un ejemplo excepcional de monasterio ortodoxo dotado con estructuras defensivas características del periodo en que se desarrolló (siglos XV al XVIII) la catedral de la Asunción (que evoca la catedral del mismo nombre edificada en el Kremlin) Entre los múltiples tesoros de la laura destaca “La Trinidad” Sergius is a world famous spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church and a popular site of pilgrimage and tourism Being situated in the town of Sergiev Posad about 70 km to the north-east from Moscow it is the most important working Russian monastery and a residence of the Patriarch This religious and military complex represents an epitome of the growth of Russian architecture and contains some of that architecture’s finest expressions It exerted a profound influence on architecture in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe including buildings outside the main monastic compound “the pearl” of the Russian church architecture was founded in the first half of the 14th century (1337) by the monk Sergius of Radonezh a great abbot of Russia and one of the most venerated orthodox saints Sergius achieved great prestige as the spiritual adviser of Dmitri Donskoi who received his blessing to the battle of Kulikov of 1380 The monastery started as a little wooden church on Makovets Hill and then developed and grew stronger through the ages Over the centuries a unique ensemble of more than 50 buildings and constructions of different dates were established The whole complex was erected according to the architectural concept of the main church In 1476 Pskovian masters built a brick belfry east of the cathedral dedicated to the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles The church combines unique features of early Muscovite and Pskovian architecture A remarkable feature of this church is a bell tower under its dome without internal interconnection between the belfry and the cathedral itself echoing the Cathedral of the Assumption in the Moscow Kremlin The frescoes of the Assumption Cathedral were painted in 1684 At the north-western corner of the Cathedral in 1780 a vault containing burials of Tsar Boris Godunov and his family was built In the 16th century the monastery was surrounded by 6 meters high and 3,5 meters thick defensive walls which proved their worth during the 16-month siege by  Polish-Lithuanian invaders during the Time of Trouble After the Upheaval of the 17th century a large-scale building programme was launched At this time new buildings were erected in the north-western part of the monastery including infirmaries topped with a tented church dedicated to Saints Zosima and Sawatiy of Solovki (1635-1637) so this tented church with a unique tiled roof is an important contribution to the Lavra In the late 17th century a number of new buildings in Naryshkin (Moscow) Baroque style were added to the monastery when most of the wooden buildings and structures were destroyed a major reconstruction campaign was launched during which the appearance of many of the buildings was changed to a more monumental style At this time one of the tallest Russian belfries (88 meters high) was built the chaotic planning of the settlements and suburbs around the monastery was replaced by a regular layout of the streets and quarters The town of Sergiev Posad was surrounded by traditional ramparts and walls In the vicinity of the monastery a number of buildings belonging to it were erected: a stable yard Major highways leading to the monastery were straightened and marked by establishing entry squares the overall urban development being oriented towards the centrepiece - the Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra The Parish churches situated within the territory of Sergiev Posad which were originally wooden and later rebuilt in stone formed a ring of domes echoing those of Lavra Being smaller and located apart from other buildings they only emphasize more the supremacy of the Lavra the Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra includes both buildings and constructions inside the wall and a complex of buildings near the monastery It represents the key element of town-planning of Sergiev Posad Criterion (ii): The Trinity Sergius Lavra Monastery complex represents the fusion of traditional Russian architecture with that of Western Europe creating an Eastern European tradition with a strong influence on architectural developments in a large area of Eastern Europe Criterion (iv): The Lavra is an outstanding and remarkably complete example of an active Orthodox monastery complex with a military function that is characteristic of the period of its growth and expansion from the 15th to the 18th century The Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra possesses all the components representing its Outstanding Universal Value the historical boundaries of the property have been well preserved as well as the architecture of the historic buildings The conservation of the ensemble has been maintained through the creation of a State museum reserve from the beginning of the 20th century Along with the approval of the boundaries of the buffer zone the integrity of the ensemble is provided by legally warranted and registered boundaries of the land occupied by the buildings and architectural structures of the ensemble Among the factors that have a negative impact on the property are the construction of monuments and other forms of development pressure within the buffer zone which impacts adversely on the Lavra’s historic appearance and the increasing number of tourist and pilgrim groups the complex history of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra Monastery has resulted in many changes and rebuildings over the centuries No single building can therefore be considered to be in its original state the importance of the monastery as a symbol of Russian spiritual cultural identity has ensured that much time and resources have been spent in its conservation and restoration The restoration work of the 1920s was aimed to achieve a certain “unity of style” returning buildings to their appearance in the 18th century and earlier This is a different approach from contemporary conservation practices it must be seen in the historical context of alterations and additions made in the 19th century and in the cultural context of efforts to strengthen the site’s symbolic importance for the Russian people has conformed in general to the Venice Charter This included the revealing and restoring of hidden and underlying elements (particularly original vaulted forms) which strengthened the coherence of the buildings’ architectural expression later additions that retain a particular significance were preserved The restoration and conservation activities together with the monitoring performed by specialists ensure the continued preservation of the authenticity of the ensemble The Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra is a Cultural Heritage Site of federal importance and it is regulated according to Federal Law of 25.06.2002 № 73-FZ “On cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of nations of the Russian Federation” Its state protection and management is implemented by the federal executive body - the Department for Control Supervision and Licensing in the Cultural Heritage Sphere of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation which has in its charge all methodological and control functions concerning restoration usage and support of cultural heritage sites and the territories connected with them The status of Cultural Heritage Site of federal importance allows a high level of legal protection At a regional level the conservation and management of the property is performed by the Moscow Region Government The municipal regulatory body is represented by the Sergiev Posad City Government in cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church and all the stakeholders carry out activities of conservation and development of the Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in conformity with norms and regulations Based on the foregoing and in order to ensure the integrity of the ensemble a management system in a broad context needs to be applied taking into consideration the interaction between physical forms sociocultural values and other characteristics of the area your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt Monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church expelled from Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery are refusing to leave amid a dispute over their government-ordered eviction The Ukrainian government has accused the religious order of supporting Moscow and maintaining links with the Russian Orthodox Church and ordered the monks to leave the site by last Wednesday at the latest Yesterday we received a letter from the UN we can stay in Lavra until the court is over until the decision is made by the court," said the Vicegerent of the Lavra Metropolitan Pavel Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery is the seat of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) Authorities in Kyiv claim that the monks violated their lease by making alterations to the historic site and other technical infractions - which the clerics deny The Ukrainian government has been cracking down on the UOC over its historic ties to the Russian Orthodox Church has supported Russian President Vladimir Putin in the invasion of Ukraine Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Moscow was closely watching events in Kyiv:  We condemn the pressure that is being exerted on the clergy and on the Russian Orthodox Church then everything will depend on their decision I have no doubt that no one in Russia will remain indifferent to their fate The dispute over Ukraine's most revered Orthodox site is part of a wider religious conflict playing out in parallel with the war The Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood sadly announces the death of Monk Panteleimon Andronikos The deceased practised for years in the holy Lavra of Saint Savva the Sanctified by his Elder and Spiritual of the Lavra Archimandrite Seraphim and has served at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for years The body of the deceased is kept in the mortuary of Kythera and Antikythera by the Holy Metropolis this city until the necessary autopsy to investigate the exact cause of his death The Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood is praying from the Horrendous Golgotha for the repose of the soul of its chosen member in the land of the living after the holy and righteous and will soon announce the details of his funeral service Copyright of website material is allowed provided the reference source is mentioned: Jerusalem Patriarchate – Website - www.jerusalem-patriarchate.info Dr Jerry Pillay expressed concern and sadness upon hearing about alleged actions taken against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine During a recent solidarity visit to Ukraine the World Council of Churches delegation visited Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra one of the largest such historical and cultural preserves in Eastern Europe “It is unfortunate that such actions – including with regard to the UOC’s monastic community of the ancient Dormition Kiev Caves Lavra – appear to target the church itself,” said Pillay “The actions being taken against the UOC do appear to raise genuine questions with regard to respect for freedom of religion or belief.” while the WCC has condemned the Russian invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine the WCC also emphasizes the importance of protecting the presence and witness of the church wherever it is found “The WCC will monitor this situation closely and respond appropriately in accordance with the principles of international human rights law and the protection of religious freedom,” said Pillay the WCC continues to encourage dialogue for peace including among its member churches and ecumenical partners in Russia Pillay reiterated the belief that Christian leaders can and must bring light we plan to convene a roundtable with church leaders from the respective countries with the latter objectives in mind,” he said “May the God of love and peace guard and guide us during these difficult times as we pray for Christ’s love to move us to justice Read the full statement