Another court hearing in the case of the abbot of the Kyiv Cave Monastery was held in Kyiv

On December 11, 2024, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv held a regular hearing in the case of the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the abbot of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel. At the meeting, the bishop’s lawyers made opening statements and determined the procedure for examining evidence. The lawyer of the Kyiv Cave Monastery, Archpriest Mykyta Chekman, said that all the charges against Metropolitan Pavlo are unfounded and political in nature. This was reported by Suspilne.

“The Metropolitan was entrusted with the responsibility of representing and protecting the brethren of the Kyiv Cave Monastery, the parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Therefore, given the situation related to the termination of the lease agreement concluded between the Ministry of Culture and the reserve, which existed at that time… Metropolitan Pavlo has made and continues to make a significant contribution to the maintenance and development of the reserve,” — said Archpriest Nikita Chekman.

For his part, the prosecutor asked to extend the duties imposed on the suspect as part of the preventive measure. The defense was against it. However, the judge granted the prosecution’s motion. In particular, it concerns the surrender of the foreign passport and appearance at the first request of the court. In addition, the prosecution and defense agreed on a hearing schedule for 2025. The next hearing is scheduled for January 28.

As reported, on December 5, 2024, the Sloviansk City District Court held a regular court hearing in the case of Metropolitan Arseny, the abbot of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra. The subject of the hearing was the detention of the UOC hierarch in a pre-trial detention center. The court rejected the petition of the bishop’s lawyers and extended the arrest until February 2025.