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
Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer
In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.
Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova
Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".
Bancheny Monastery reports provocation
The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.
Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.
Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution
At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.
Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession
The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.