House arrest of Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra superior extended for another month

MOSCOW. May 30 (Interfax) - The Solomensky District Court in Kiev has extended house arrest of Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra superior Metropolitan Pavel for 30 days, the Ukrainian media said.

The court compelled the archpriest to wear an ankle bracelet and prohibited him from leaving the place of residence in the village of Voronkov in the Kiev region until July 1. The defense will file an appeal.

According to the Ukrainian media, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople called the Lavra superior during the court hearing and offered him to join the non-canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine in exchange for being released from custody. The metropolitan declined the offer.

The media said that a similar offer had been made by officers of the Security Service of Ukraine, who wanted Metropolitan Pavel to accept the eviction of monks from the Lavra. That offer was also declined.

The Lavra superior is charged with excusing the special military operation and criticizing the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Constantinople Patriarchate.