Kiev, September 26, 2023
Photo: news.church.ua
Despite being physically located on the territory of the Donetsk Diocese, the Holy Dormition-Svyatogorsk Lavra is now a stavropegial institution, directly under the episcopal authority of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine.
This and other decisions were made at yesterday’s session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held at the St. Panteleimon Convent in Kiev.
Together with the monastery’s change in status, its abbot, His Eminence Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk, previously a vicar of the Donetsk Diocese, is now a vicar of the Kiev Metropolis, reports the UOC’s Information-Education Department.
The Svyatogorsk Lavra and its sketes have repeatedly come under attack during the war since last February, suffering considerable damage. On Saturday, it was reported that Security Service and military representatives arbitrarily blocked pilgrims from reaching the monastery.
The Synodal report also states that “there was a change of the abbot of the Holy Ascension-Bancheny Monastery of the Diocese of Chernivtsi and Bukovina.”
Since 2008, the abbot has been His Eminence Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny, a father of hundreds of orphans, an officially recognized “Hero of Ukraine,” and one of the most authoritative hierarchs of the UOC. He is among the hierarchs facing open persecution from the state, and in July, he suffered a severe stroke.
Additionally, due to the inability to attend meetings, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol has been replaced with His Eminence Metropolitan Sergei of Ternopil and Kremenets as a permanent member of the Synod.
The Synod also published an appeal to the episcopate, clergy, monastics, and faithful of the UOC, calling for them to fervent prayer and restraint when protecting their rights amidst the systematic violation being carried out by the state.
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