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
Vatican Plans to Fully Switch to Its Own Solar Energy
The Vatican intends to build a large solar power plant near Rome that will fully cover the state's electricity needs.
Metropolitan Onuphrius congratulated Ukrainians on Independence Day
The Primate of the UOC called on citizens to harmony, unity and prayer.
The first monastic tonsure was performed at the Vinnytsia Elijah Men's Monastery
In Vinnytsia, the monastery's resident hierodeacon Sophronius received monastic tonsure with the name Lawrence, in honor of Venerable Lawrence of Chernigov.
A memorial service was held at the Svyatogorsk Lavra for the slain monk Varlsanofy
A memorial service (panikhida) was held at the Svyatogorsk Lavra for Monk Varsanofy, who was killed as a result of an attack on the brethren of the monastery.
Monk brutally murdered, two others wounded at Sviatohirsk Lavra
Unidentified assailants attacked members of the monastic brotherhood with a knife, leaving one dead and two seriously wounded.
Zelensky: We are fighting so Putin cannot dictate which Church must disappear
According to Zelensky, disagreements among representatives of Ukraine’s various faiths do not matter “when it comes to what is most important.”