Court extends detention of Sviatohirsk Lavra abbot until February 2025
Metropolitan Arseniy. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra
On December 5, the 19th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of Metropolitan Arseniy, Abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, the Sloviansk City and District Court of Donetsk Region held a hearing to decide on extending or modifying his preventive measure, reports the monastery's Telegram channel.
The prosecution insisted on extending the pre-trial detention. Metropolitan Arseniy’s defense presented the court with 11 statements from Members of Parliament of Ukraine who personally vouched for the bishop’s compliance with procedural requirements. Among those present at the court was MP Viktoriya Hryb. Additionally, a letter of guarantee was submitted from religious organizations in the Dnipropetrovsk region, offering a location for house arrest.
The defense also petitioned for the release of the metropolitan on bail. However, the court sided with the prosecution, extending the detention until February 2, 2025, disregarding the arguments of the defense and the guarantors.
The court also did not address the defense's motion, submitted back in October 2024, to broadcast the hearings on YouTube, which could have enhanced the transparency of the process.
The defense team is already preparing appeals against the court's decision. The next hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2024.
As the UOJ previously reported, Metropolitan Arseniy gave an interview to a British media outlet about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
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.