Met. Arseniy Needs Urgent Heart Surgery

Metropolitan Arseniy (Yakovenko). Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra

DNIPRO, Ukraine — Met. Arseniy of Sviatohirsk, who has been imprisoned at the Dnipro pre-trial detention center since April of last year, is in need of heart surgery.

According to a release from the press service of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, which was also circulated by the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), His Eminence experienced an aggravation of health conditions he was already suffering from on Sept. 30, 2025, and due to this aggravation was taken to a hospital in Dnipro.

There, a cardiologist expressed the need for heart surgery, as well as further comprehensive medical appointments.

During a regular court session on Oct. 1, 2025, Met. Arseniy reportedly felt ill. The defense successfully requested for the hearing to be postponed to a later date.

"In addition, it is noted that the measure of restraint for Vladyka in the form of keeping in custody expired on 29 September," the Lavra stated. "With regard thereto, the lawyers inform that Metropolitan Arseniy is kept at a pre-trial detention center in violation of the laws of Ukraine."

Previously, UOJ reported that the lawyers of Met. Arseniy had demanded the judge's recusal.

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