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
About how the UOC Council in Feofania "turned into a disorderly gathering"
All insults directed at the Council – as if it were a «gathering», «filth», «scum» and so forth – are based not on canons and not on facts, but only on the emotions of their authors.
In Radivilov, believers of the UOC held a traditional procession for peace
A prayer procession was accompanied by icons with relics of great Orthodox saints.
In Baltimore, hundreds of people gathered at a satanic event
More than 23,000 people have signed a petition against holding a satanic gathering in Baltimore.
In Germany, a Bishop of Constantinople Prayed with Catholics and Lutherans
The ecumenical concelebration concluded with the distribution of safety carabiners to all those present as a symbol of support and trust.
Foreign Christians Repented in the Knesset for Weak Assistance to Israel
Foreign Christians' repentance in the Israeli parliament has been criticized on social media.
HUR: Opinion polls prove religious rights are not violated in Ukraine
A representative of the intelligence service, Andrii Yusov, stated that society does not confirm any facts of religious persecution in the country.