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
Vance: Death is a bad thing, but losing your soul is much more terrible
"The fundamental tenant of the Christian faith is that the Son of God became man, He died and then He raised Himself from the dead," the U.S. Vice President reminded Americans.
Expert: The demographic situation is a national catastrophe for Ukraine
Analyst Oleksii Kusch warns that the country's population is shrinking at a catastrophic rate, yet Ukrainians do not see it as a problem.
Looters rob and desecrate a UOC church in Myrnohrad, Donbas
The thieves stole bells and a chandelier after breaking down the church doors.
TRC abducts a priest of UOC's Ovruch Eparchy
Father Pavlo Kushnirchuk has not been in contact with his family.
Cherkasy mayor accuses UOC of stealing Kazan Icon, previously stolen by OCU
Anatoliy Bondarenko called on Metropolitan Theodosiy to return the Kazan Icon, which had previously been stolen by OCU activists during the seizure and looting of St. Michael's Cathedral.
Congresswoman: Zelensky persecutes the Church
Victoria Spartz criticized President Zelensky for persecuting the Church and media control.