Metropolitan Arseniy left behind bars for another 60 days
Metropolitan Arseny. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra
On January 20–21, 2026, the Chechelivsky District Court of Dnipro considered the issue of extending the preventive measure against the abbot of the Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseniy. The court granted the prosecutor's motion and kept the hierarch in custody for another 60 days – until March 22, 2026. This was reported by the press service of the Sviatohirsk Monastery.
The defense requested to replace detention with a milder measure and insisted on urgent hospitalization of the bishop due to his serious health condition and the need for heart surgery.
During the hearing, a Kyiv professor of medicine stated that the prescribed treatment not only fails to help Metropolitan Arseniy but also harms him, and that a full medical examination is impossible in the detention conditions.
The court also refused emergency hospitalization, however, it granted the defense's motion for online broadcasting of further court hearings.
The lawyers are preparing an appeal.
The hearings were attended by believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who came to support the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra.
As the UOJ reported, Metropolitan Longin called to stand up for the defense of Bishop Arseniy.
Read also
World Council of Churches calls on USA, Israel and Iran to return to dialogue
The World Council of Churches issued a statement on the need to cease hostilities around Iran and restore diplomatic dialogue.
His Beatitude consecrates vehicles for evacuation of wounded soldiers
The Primate of the UOC consecrated five vehicles purchased with the funds collected by clerics and laypeople from Ukraine and Europe.
In Kyiv, TRC detains KDAiS teacher Archimandrite Raphael
Archimandrite Raphael, a teacher at the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, was taken to the capital's TRC.
Monastic tonsure performed in Vinnytsia Eparchy
Metropolitan Varsonofiy performed the monastic tonsure of Deacon Serhiy Rachynsky.
Radicals to hold conference on theological justification for "Sacred War"
Korchynsky stated that he will substantiate at the forum in May what "Sacred War" is and refute the "heresy of pacifism".
UOC starts Easter charity drive to support children of displaced families
The UOC has launched a charity initiative: 2,000 Easter kulichi will be delivered to children from displaced families, to orphans and boarding-school pupils, and to families in front-line regions.