The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, reacted to the fact that on April 1, a trial was held in Ukraine against the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel. She shared her opinion on this in a personal Telegram channel.

“April Fool’s Day was held in Kyiv on a grand scale. No one was invited, they managed on their own, I see. Zelensky, the court and the crowd – everyone rages in Lent,” Zakharova wrote.

According to her, the persecution of the Kyiv regime against the canonical UOC – This violence against Orthodoxy.

“Before our eyes, Orthodoxy is being raped, mocked and mocked. The civilized are silent. That’s not why they issued declarations of human rights and prepared reports on religious freedoms. – Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Recall that on the morning of April 1, Metropolitan Pavel was charged with committing criminal offenses, after which he was summoned for interrogation and searches began in his house.

As representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) reported, the charges were based on criticism of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), as well as the Patriarchate of Constantinople, to which the OCU is subordinate.

Ukrainian publications reported that after the interrogation of the rector of the Lavra, they were placed under house arrest. After the court session, Metropolitan Pavel ended up in the hospital. Despite this, the court decided to deliver him forcibly to the hearing. He was given two months of house arrest.

The persecution of the canonical UOC intensified back in November 2022: then a wave of searches of clergy swept across the country. Criminal cases were opened against many, among other things, they were accused of pro-Russian activities.

In early spring, the clergy of the UOC were ordered to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra until March 29. The reason for the expulsion of the monks was the alleged violation of the lease agreement on their part.

Recall that the clergy of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church received a notification about the need to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra before 23:59 on March 29, 2023.

Metropolitan Pavel, the vicegerent of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, has previously stated that the monks will not leave the Lavra until the end of the trial with the reserve.

The parishioners of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra did not allow members of the commission, which the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine instructed to describe the property in connection with the demand to evict the monks, to enter. Representatives of the UOC stressed that they have every reason not to allow the commission to enter the territory of the monastery.