Believers' access to Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra caves reopened

MOSCOW. March 22 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Culture Ministry's commission inspected the Far Caves of the Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra on Wednesday morning, both the Far and Near Caves are again open to pilgrims now, the information and educational department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of the Moscow Patriarchate said.

Members of the inspection commission examined the relics of the Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra saints in the presence of Lavra representatives. "The inspection took place in a calm working environment, without any kind of manipulation," keeper of the Far Caves Archimandrite Damian (Radzichovskyi) said.

He said it is expected that the Near and Far Caves will be open daily on the same schedule from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until March 29, when the agreement with the UOC on the lease of property on the territory of the Lavra will be terminated.