kyiv, Ukraine.- Willow branches in hand, Ukrainians celebrated Palm Sunday at the country’s most revered Orthodox site that has been at the center of a religious dispute paralleling the war against Russia.
Dozens of worshipers packed the large Antony and Theodosius Refectory Church located within the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastic complex. Many more waited outside in the extensive courtyard and watched the service there.
The occasion marks the first significant religious service to be held at the compound following the March 29 eviction order issued by the Ukrainian government against Orthodox monks residing at the monastery for their alleged ties to Russia. The monks refused to leave the premises before the eviction deadline.
The service on Sunday passed calmly with some police presence at the entrances of the complex.
The site, which is known as the Monastery of the Caves, contains a church, monastic buildings, and museums. Its oldest parts date from the dawn of Christianity a millennium ago.
It is owned by the Ukrainian government and the state agency that oversees the property notified the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in March that it was terminating its lease. The move comes amid a broader crackdown on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for its historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, whose leader, Patriarch Cyril, has supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
After the service, Metropolitan Epiphany, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, blessed worshipers outside the church gates with holy water.
The faithful welcomed the eviction order.
“I am very glad that this is finally happening, that the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is cleansed of its Moscow roots and is renewed and comes to life,” said Yulia Sencuk, speaking outside the church.
“By these same events, we are more likely to bring our victory closer.”
Palm Sunday marks the last Sunday before Easter and marks the start of a holy week of prayer and reflection for Christians. The day celebrates the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, where it is believed that he was greeted with palm fronds on the way. Orthodox churches use different reference dates to calculate when Easter occurs, which can be up to four weeks later than the holiday marked by other branches of Christianity.
Instead of holding the symbolic palms, many held willow branches on Sunday in accordance with tradition in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel were present, along with civilians, to mark the occasion at the church.
“It’s a very important holiday for me because it’s our tradition and it’s about our peace, our independence, our belief in God, in peace, in our… victory,” said Irina, a soldier present. She spoke on the condition that her last name not be disclosed, in accordance with army protocols.
