The vicar of Svyatogorsk Lavra commented on the court's accusations against him

On May 13, 2024, while speaking during a court session at the Dnipro Court of Appeal, the vicar of the Holy Assumption Svyatogorsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseniy (Yakovenko), made a comment on the charges brought against him. The hierarch said that he did not recognize his guilt in disclosing the positions of the AFU. The words of the hierarch are transmitted by the press service of the Sviatogorsk Lavra.

“I was told by representatives of the SSU that a police post is leaving, which checks the documents of people who come from other areas. I with representatives of the SSU for these seven months, until I was taken into custody, I communicated with them. There were no complaints from their side,” — Metropolitan Arseniy explained.

The hierarch emphasized that it was groundless to accuse him of betraying Ukraine. Metropolitan Arseniy is convinced that the Sviatogorsk Lavra is an example of Ukraine’s unity, as it actually unites the west and east of the country.

“I have put my whole life in order that our Church was a unifying force for our people… And Sviatogorsk Lavra at the moment is an icon of unity of Ukraine, because to us humanitarian aid is brought from Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Rivne, Volyn regions… Among the brethren of the Lavra there are many representatives of Western Ukraine, because we have never divided people — the Lavra united and unites the Ukrainian people,” — added the vicar of the Lavra.

We will remind, earlier we reported that the Court of Appeal of Dnipro left in the detention center of the vicar of the Holy Assumption Svyatogorsk Lavra Metropolitan Arseniy (Yakovenko). The judges did not take into account the arguments of the defense, including the unsatisfactory state of health of the hierarch and the need for constant medical supervision.