Lawyers secure recusal of judge in Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra case
The Church of St. Agapitus of the Caves. Photo: Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
The lawyer for the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, announced on his Telegram channel that the defense succeeded in removing a biased judge from the panel of judges handling the Lavra case. A session of the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal in Kyiv addressed the issue of terminating the lease agreement for the monastery's use of the Lower Lavra.
“It was revealed that one of the judges recently assigned to our case had previously issued a ruling in another church-related matter, in which she explicitly stated that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) is ‘part of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).’ Thus, the respected judge officially referred to the UOC as the ‘Moscow Patriarchate’ in a court decision,” Chekman explained.
The defense filed for recusal, arguing that such a judge could not objectively consider a case involving the UOC and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The panel of judges agreed and granted the motion for recusal, directing the case for reassignment through an automated distribution system.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the court hearing on evicting the monks from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra has been postponed.
Read also
OCU cleric responds to Hryshchuk's provocations at funerals for AFU soldiers
Sofroniy Chuprina refuted claims about the necessity of opening the Royal Doors during funeral services.
Kosmach residents accuse OCU monks of supporting "Russian world" ideas
Parishioners of the OCU stated that the monastery residents near the village of Kosmach use pro-Russian rhetoric, preventing them from switching to the "new calendar".
Medieval church in England safeguarded with National Lottery funds
The preservation of a 13th-century church in Leicestershire was made possible thanks to money from British National Lottery draws.
Lavra Reserve marks centenary of Bolshevik seizure of the monastery
Reconstructions of museum exhibits from the “museum town,” which the Bolsheviks proclaimed within the monastery walls, were staged by the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve.
Sweden stops state support for Islamic organizations in country
The Swedish government has officially stopped all taxpayer-funded grants to the aid organization Islamic Relief Sweden (IRS) after an investigation revealed risks of connections to extremism.
Head of Montenegro’s schismatics meet with Phanar representative in Rome
A Finnish archbishop under the Phanar’s jurisdiction held a meeting with a representative of an uncanonical church structure from Montenegro.