Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra confirms second death from COVID-19

Published April 13, 2020 at 5:31 pm

A priest wearing medical mask, amid concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, speaks by smartphone on April 13, 2020 at the entrance in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases at an Orthodox monastery in central Kiev has jumped to more than 90, including 63 cases confirmed in the past 24 hours, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said on April 13.

Photo by Oleg Petrasiuk

Another monk of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra has died of coronavirus (COVID-19), the press service for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church said in a statement on Facebook.

“Another Lavra monk passed away in hospital today. The circumstances of his death have not been reported yet,” the statement said.

This is the Lavra’s second death. Archimandrite Nektary (Kovalenko), who lived at the monastery, died on April 12.

According to earlier reports, more than 90 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed at the Lavra, of which, 63 were confirmed in the past 24 hours. The Lavra is closed for quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak, by decision of the capital’s emergency situations commission. A medical brigade, X-ray equipment, and tests will be sent to the territory of the monastery.