Bulgarian priest calls for worldwide prayer for Metropolitan Arseny

The cleric of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Priest Vasil Vasilev, made a public appeal in defense of Metropolitan Arseny, the vicar of the Sviatogorsk Lavra, calling for his immediate release. He also appealed to all Orthodox Christians around the world to intensify prayers for the imprisoned bishop.

According to the website of the Sviatogorsk Lavra, the words of support sound in response to the re-imprisonment of the vladyka in the pre-trial detention center. on November 4, 2025, Priest Vasil Vasilev, cleric of the Trinity Church in Shumen, published on his Facebook page «A word in defense of Metropolitan Arseniy», in which he called the arrest of the hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church a persecution against the Church of Christ. The next day this appeal was published by the Bulgarian website eurochicago.com.

Here is the full text of the priest’s appeal:

«With deep pain and anxiety in my heart, I raise my voice — not as a politician, not as a judge, but as an Orthodox priest, as a brother in faith and service, as a person who cannot remain silent when the sanctity is trampled and the House of God is insulted.

Today, in the XXI century, in the heart of Europe, Metropolitan Arseniy of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church — clergyman, bishop, monk, man of God — is deprived of his freedom. He is arrested, subjected to injustice, placed in humiliating conditions despite his weakened health. This is not just a human wrong — it is a persecution against Christ’s Church.

And we Orthodox Christians cannot remain indifferent! We cannot indifferently watch as the Archpastor of God’s Church becomes a victim of political malice and religious intolerance!

Metropolitan Arseny is not a criminal. He is a shepherd who has been serving God and the people for many years. His «fault» is that he remains faithful to the canonical Church — the Church of Christ, which does not bow down to power, does not betray the faith, does not sell its soul for earthly gains.

Today his cross is heavy — and this cross is common to all of Orthodoxy. What is happening to him is a blow to all of us. The persecution of him reminds us of the dark years after 1917, when Bolshevik godlessness rose up against the Church and thousands of clerics were thrown into prisons, camps and graves. Today history is repeating itself — not with the same slogans, but with the same spirit of hatred for Christ’s truth.

Therefore, I appeal with all my heart and conscience:

Release Metropolitan Arseny immediately! Stop this lawless and inhumane treatment of God’s bishop! To restore justice and respect for his human dignity and spiritual ministry!

I urge all Orthodox Christians all over the face of the earth — in Russia, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Romania, Georgia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, all over the world where the children of Orthodoxy live — to pray diligently for him.

Let us lift up our prayers to Almighty God, to the Most Holy Mother of God, to the holy martyrs and confessors, that they may strengthen and free Metropolitan Arseny from the shackles of unrighteousness.

I urge all Orthodox Bulgarians — brothers and sisters in faith: let us not be silent witnesses to this spiritual drama! Let us show that the Bulgarian heart has not grown cold, that the flame of Christian compassion and spiritual unity still burns in our souls!

Let our prayer become a strong cry to Heaven and to the conscience of people: «Release Metropolitan Arseny! Leave the Church in peace! Do not infringe upon the servants of God!»

No state calling itself democratic has the right to imprison a man for his faith. No ruler has the right to put shackles on the apostles of Christ and destroy the temple in human souls.

True freedom is not in the silence of the Church, but in the voice of truth. True strength is not in weapons and orders, but in prayer and love.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, release Your faithful bishop Arseny Give him strength to bear his cross as You bore Calvary for all of us. And give to all those who persecute him repentance, reason, and the fear of God, that they may not add new tears to the sufferings of Your Church.

Amen!»