Metropolitan Arseniy of Ukrainian Orthodox Church Arrested on Treason Charges

OCP News Service – 10/05/2024

Kyiv – Ukraine: Metropolitan Arseniy, the abbot of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra, a prominent monastery in eastern Ukraine, was arrested on April 25, 2024, by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). He is accused of passing information about the location of Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoints to Russia.

The SBU alleges that Metropolitan Arseniy disguised the information as a complaint during a church liturgy, which was filmed and posted online. Ukrainian officials claim this disclosure could have put Ukrainian troops at risk.

The arrest has sparked controversy. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), to which Metropolitan Arseniy belongs, maintains his innocence and calls the arrest politically motivated. They point out that no harm came to Ukrainian forces and that the information might have been related to access issues for worshippers at checkpoints.

Human rights groups also expressed concern, suggesting the arrest could be part of a wider crackdown on the UOC-MP, which has historically maintained closer ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.

A court ordered Metropolitan Arseniy to be held in custody for two months without bail. The International Alliance for Church Rights has demanded his release and offered guarantees on his behalf.

Source:

OCP News Service