Met. Arseniy becomes unwell during trial, ambulance called for him

Metropolitan Arseniy in court on November 28, 2025. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra

On November 28, 2025, a session was held in the Sobornyi District Court of Dnipro regarding the second case initiated against the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arsenii. The court was considering a motion filed by the lawyers to recuse the investigator. As reported by the press service of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, the hearing was accompanied by serious violations of the defense’s procedural rights, and the bishop's health condition worsened right in the courtroom, prompting a call for an ambulance.

This time, the court allowed all of Bishop Arseniy's lawyers to participate in the hearing. Believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church came to the courtroom to support the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra.

The investigator had preliminarily organized the forced removal of the bishop from the detention center to familiarize him with the criminal case materials. However, Metropolitan Arseniy refused to review the materials without his lawyers and demanded to be taken directly to the court session.

The session began with a significant delay and serious violations of the procedural rights of the defense.

Due to high blood pressure, an ambulance was called for Metropolitan Arseniy, and the medical team provided him with first aid.

At the request of the lawyers, the session was postponed to Monday. The judge did not specify the time, promising to notify the defense side additionally.

“At the same time, as the Lavra emphasizes, despite Metropolitan Arseniy’s health condition and the fact that Saturday is a non-working day, the investigator has again scheduled a forced transfer of the metropolitan on 29 November for ‘unclear procedural actions.’”

The lawyers of Metropolitan Arseniy note that the defense's statements and motions are being delayed unacceptably long – for instance, the investigator's dismissal has not been considered for more than ten days – whereas the prosecution's motions are reviewed promptly by the court. This, according to the defenders, "raises serious concern and calls into question the impartiality of the court".

The brethren of the Sviatohirsk Lavra appealed to the faithful for intensified prayers for Metropolitan Arseniy.

As reported by the UOJ, Bishop Arseniy previously stated: They urge me to exchange, but my people are in Ukraine.

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