Judge recuses himself at court session on Lower Lavra

Court hearings on the Lower Lavra. Photo: TG channel "Fortetsia Lavra"

On October 20, 2025, a regular court session was held in the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal regarding the use of the Lower Lavra, reports the lawyer of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Archpriest Nikita Chekman.

"One of the members of the panel of judges was challenged by the Monastery's lawyers due to his biased position towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, during which the said judge recused himself," the lawyer reported.

In this regard, the court will carry out an automatic case reassignment, and a new panel of judges will be appointed.

As a reminder, two parallel court cases related to the Lavra are currently underway: one concerning the right to use the Dormition and Refectory Churches of the Upper Lavra, and the other regarding the eviction of monks from the Lower Lavra.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that on October 20, a court session will be held on the termination of the contract with the Lavra.

Read also

"Parishioners" brought to Lavra by buses on Epifaniy's name day, media

People from different regions were brought in an organized manner to the "service" of the head of the OCU at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Yermak consults fortune teller before important appointments, prosecutor says

Private correspondence with a fortune teller was found with the former head of the President's Office, in which he coordinated personnel decisions.

SBU searches home of Metropolitan Longin’s daughter

Law enforcement officers detained the hierarch's son-in-law, who has many children, and refused to allow a lawyer to participate in investigative actions at the family's private home.

Vienna hosts regional congress of Ukrainian Orthodox youth

Youth from seven European countries discussed the spiritual foundations of democracy and prayed for peace in Ukraine before a particle of the Life-Giving Cross.

Persecuted UOC community in Zadubrivka celebrates patronal feast

The faithful celebrated the Liturgy in a house church and held a water-blessing service at the site where a new church in honor of Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaiv is being built.

Thousands of faithful gather at Pochaiv Lavra for feast of St Amphilochius

The pilgrimage to the relics of Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaiv on his feast day is a long-standing tradition of the UOC.