“the tradition of burying people near churches is indeed ancient and that cemeteries have long existed beside churches. A monastery, however, lives by different rules
Similar quotes
“Only monks may be buried at a monastery, and the Lavra is not a museum site but a place of worship
“I see the Lavra in the same way – if a cemetery is ever established on its grounds, only monks may be buried there, not laypeople.
“It is impossible to establish ordinary cemeteries at Ostrog Monastery or Visoki Dečani Monastery. Only monks and abbots who have earned such an honor may be buried there
“The Ukrainian authorities’ decision to establish a pantheon of heroes on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra runs contrary to the Church tradition of burial at monasteries
“the ancient monastery a symbol of enduring statehood
“Of course, all cultural monuments must be respected and protected. However, the Lavra is not merely a historical site. The Lavra is a place of prayer
“At the centre of today’s feast stands a tomb, yet the Church does not call us to sorrow, but to joy. The Apostles are gathered around the body of the Mother of God, yet the feast’s hymns speak of life. A separation takes place, yet the Church proclaims a reunion.
“It is a modest and humble church that reflects the first steps of the early Greeks, I would like this church to remain as it is, because it demonstrates that a people came here who were poor and humble, yet honourable. As time passed, our people progressed, but this church—one of the first to meet the needs of the great wave of migration—reflects our earliest steps and constitutes a historical and spiritual landmark.
