Metropolitan Arseniy Faces New Court Hearing, Monks of the Lavra Call for Prayers

Met. Arseniy has been battling cancer during an 18 month long detention in a damp Soviet era prison

SLOVIANSK —The Dnipro Court of Appeal will consider appeals against the ruling to prolong the custody of Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatogorsk, the abbot of the Sviatogorsk Lavra. 

On September 4, 2025, the Dnipro Court of Appeal will hear appeals filed by the lawyers of Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatogorsk against the decision of the Sloviansk City District Court of August 1, which extended his detention until September 29 inclusive. The news was reported on the official website of the Lavra.

The appellate court session will begin at 10:00 a.m. The defense will ask the judges to release the abbot of the Lavra by imposing another preventive measure—such as bail, personal surety, or another option not involving imprisonment.

Metropolitan Arseniy has been held in the Dnipro pre-trial detention center for about a year and a half—since April 25, 2024.

The brotherhood of the Sviatogorsk Lavra has appealed to the faithful for prayers for the imprisoned Metropolitan Arseniy and for the brethren of the monastery. The official Lavra website has also published details for making donations toward the bishop’s legal defense.

Earlier reports covered various stages of the court proceedings in the case of Metropolitan Arseniy. Materials related to the criminal case are being published on the Lavra’s website.

As previously reported by UOJ, on August 1 the court extended Metropolitan Arseniy’s detention for another two months.

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