Court hearing in the case of Metropolitan Arseniy postponed to July 17

Metropolitan Arseniy. Photo: svlavra.church.ua

The Slavyansk City District Court of Donetsk Region has postponed the hearing in the case of Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk, which had been scheduled for July 9, 2025, to July 17. This was reported by the press service of the Sviatohirsk Lavra.

The postponement was due to technical issues that prevented all participants in the legal process from joining the hearing, which was to be held via videoconference.

The monastery notes that, at present, defense motions remain pending, including one to return the indictment to the prosecutor and another to restore Metropolitan Arseniy’s right to medical care.

“The defense is taking all possible measures to secure Metropolitan Arseniy’s release from custody, especially given that he requires treatment that cannot be provided in the conditions of the pre-trial detention center,” the statement reads.

At the next hearing in the case of the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, the court is expected to consider the prosecutor’s motion to extend the measure of restraint in the form of detention. The current detention order for Metropolitan Arseniy expires at the end of July.

As a reminder, the hierarch of the UOC has been held in the Dnipro pre-trial detention center since April 25, 2024 – for 14 months now. The Sviatohirsk Lavra calls on the faithful to pray for the imprisoned Metropolitan Arseniy and the brotherhood of the monastery, and also asks for material support for the hierarch’s legal defense.

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