Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk left in pre-trial detention
Metropolitan Arseniy in court. Photo: 1kozakTv
On June 7 in Dnipro, at the October District Court of Dnipro, the case of the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseniy (Yakovenko), regarding a change in his preventive measure, was heard, the monastery's press service reports.
Parishioners of the UOC came to court to support the bishop. Also, 10 deputies of the Verkhovna Rada from various factions were ready to stand as sureties for the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Monastery; they submitted relevant statements to the court.
Metropolitan Arseniy, as before, did not admit his guilt in transmitting the location of checkpoints during his sermon, which could have been used by the enemy.
"I asked the people standing in the cathedral to pray for the situation at the checkpoints to be resolved, and the pilgrims who were not allowed through eventually managed to get to the celebration," said the abbot of the Lavra.
He talked about the role the Sviatohirsk Lavra plays for Ukraine.
"The Sviatohirsk Lavra is an icon of the unity of Ukraine," emphasized Metropolitan Arseniy. "Pilgrims come to us from different parts of the country, including from the West, for example from Bukovyna. However, I am accused of betraying Ukraine. In addition to the life of prayer, we also engage in social activities. Currently, there are 100 pensioners living on the Lavra's maintenance. In 2015, there were 1,000 refugees in the Lavra, including 470 children and 74 paralyzed people. We provided foods to 3-5 thousand people a day, essentially taking on the functions of the state."
"All accusations against me are unfounded and cause me bewilderment," concluded the UOC hierarch.
The hierarch's lawyers asked the court to release Metropolitan Arseniy on bail or to set bail. The court left this request without satisfaction; the bishop remained in pre-trial detention until June 22, 2024, without the right to post bail.
As reported by the UOJ, the abbot of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseniy (Yakovenko), is still in pre-trial detention, as evidence continues to be collected in his case and new examinations are being initiated.
Read also
DESS challenges court ruling overturning “expert review” against UOC
According to DESS, it has filed a cassation appeal against the court ruling that annulled the order approving the UOC “expert review” and declared the service head’s actions unlawful.
Greek priest: Sad to see Orthodox Christians fighting each other in Ukraine
Fr. Georgios Katsaounis recalled the historical ties between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples and criticized the Greek Prime Minister’s statement about a “war with Russia.”
Anglican Archbishop: Ban on women's priesthood in RCC is an injustice
After her visit to the pontiff, Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally touched on the topic of women's priesthood in the RCC in an interview and called the ban on it "an injustice."
Greek priest on Pope's visit to Phanar: faith must not be sold
Archpriest Georgios Katsaounis warned that in the modern ecumenical dialogue there are serious risks of diluting Orthodox dogmas.
Greek priest: The principle of papal supremacy in Catholicism is a disease
Archpriest Georgios Katsaounis stated that Western Christianity suffers from the principle of one person's supremacy, and called this a spiritual illness.
In Egypt, Coptic blogger sentenced to 5 years for videos about Christianity
A Coptic blogger was sentenced to five years in prison with hard labor under a blasphemy law for publishing a video about Christianity.