Court in Zakarpattia closes case against UOC archimandrite
Archimandrite Benedict (Khromiy) outside the courthouse. Photo: priest's Facebook page
In Zakarpattia Oblast, a court ruled to release Archimandrite Benedict (Khromiy) of the Khust Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from punishment in a criminal case over the alleged “dissemination of communist symbols.” The priest published the court ruling on his Facebook page on June 12, 2025.
Archimandrite Benedict expressed his gratitude to all who had prayed for him.
The cleric was charged under Part 1, Article 436-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for using a Facebook frame with a Victory Day greeting, which he had posted back in 2020. He was found guilty and sentenced to a suspended term of three years, later replaced with one year of probation.
After the probationary year ended, the Probation Service filed a motion in December 2024 for the priest’s early release from punishment.
However, the court in Rakhiv delayed the process over five hearings and ultimately denied the request. The lawyer representing Fr. Benedict filed an appeal, which resulted in the clergyman being released from punishment.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the court had earlier fined the UOC archimandrite 60,000 hryvnias.
Read also
Zelensky tells Patriarch Bartholomew about power outage problems
The president spoke about humanitarian difficulties in Ukraine related to the energy situation.
Metropolitan Nafanail consecrates iconostasis in temporary church in Lutsk
On the feast day of St. Spyridon of Trimythous, a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over the parish’s patronal celebration.
Pat Daniel awards Pat Bartholomew with order for overcoming schism in BOC
The award was bestowed for organizing the 1998 Council, which conciliar-ly resolved the crisis caused by the schism in the Bulgarian Church.
Persecuted UOC parish in Chernivtsi celebrates its feast day
A festive divine service in honor of St. Spyridon of Trimythous was held in a parish that remains faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church despite attempts to seize the church.
Bulgarian Church Primate arrives in Istanbul
The first official visit of Patriarch Daniel to the Phanar has begun.
Political expert: Declaring January 7 as Programmer’s Day resembles mockery
Kostiantyn Bondarenko commented on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to designate a new professional holiday on the day when Christmas is celebrated.