30th Anniversary of the Abbot of Svyatogorsk Lavra: A Story of Persecution by Ukrainian Authorities

Svyatogorsk, Donetsk Province, Ukraine, January 21, 2025

Photo: svlavra.church.ua His Eminence Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk, the persecuted canonical Ukrainian Orthodox hierarch who has been Ukraine court refuses to release UOC bishop despite Parliament members’ guarantees, won’t review evidenceThe Metropolitan was initially detained in late April, just before Holy Week.

“>unjustly held in detention since April, reached his 30th anniversary as abbot of the Holy Dormition-Svyatogorsk Lavra this month.

The brethren of the monastery, the sisters of its many sketes, the refugees it has been housing for more than a decade, and pilgrims congratulated His Eminence on this significant event.

On January 10, 1995, His Grace Bishop Alipy of Gorlovka appointed then-Hieromonk Arseny, 26, as abbot of the reviving monastery. He was liturgically elevated to this post on January 20 in the monastery’s Holy Dormition Cathedral.

“This historic decision to appoint you to such a high and responsible position was made with the participation of truly great holy hierarchs, spirit-bearing elders, and confessors of our time: His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan), your spiritual father Bishop Alipy, and Schema-Archimandrite Seraphim (Mirchuk),” the message reads.

This trust in Met. Arseny has been fully justified, the message states, noting that the monastery has flowered under his rule, and 21 years ago it Svyatogorsk Monastery celebrates 20th anniversary as a lavraThe monastery dates back to at least the early 16th century. It was closed in 1922 and reopened in 1992.

“>acquired the status of lavra.

The brethren and others listed many of His Eminence’s great contributions to the life of the monastery:

• Restored the entire monastery complex from ruins, adorning the churches with holy icons and sacred items, and established several sketes near the main monastery.

• Designed and oversaw the construction of multiple church architectural complexes throughout the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, extending his influence beyond Svyatogorsk itself.

• Established and restored both secular and Sunday schools, created choir groups, and conducted extensive social work in education and cultural development.

• Initiated significant historical research about the monastery, establishing academic conferences that resulted in numerous scholarly publications about the monastery’s history.

• Revitalized the city of Svyatogorsk by restoring its historical name and transforming it into a major cultural and tourist destination in the Donetsk region.

• Created a new, strict monastic charter that modernized ancient Svyatogorsk traditions while maintaining their spiritual essence, making the Lavra famous for its disciplined monastic life.

• Demonstrated multiple talents as a preacher, spiritual father, choir director, builder, architect, artist, and administrator, using these skills to benefit the monastery and community.

• Facilitated the discovery of holy relics, wrote hagiographies, commissioned icons, and achieved the canonization of previous Svyatogorsk abbots and spiritual fathers.

• Made history as the first vicar in the Svyatogorsk Lavra’s history to govern it while holding the episcopal rank.

And concerning Met. Arseny’s nine months of groundless detention and abuse, the brethren write:

In the past year, you were destined to become an emulator of the Svyatogorsk abbots not only in the revival and beautification of the monastery. Our Lord Jesus Christ called you to the highest Apostolic feat of confession (being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ Philem. 1:9), which you firmly endure in prison confinement, like the Svyatogorsk abbots and venerable confessors Joel (Ozeryansky), Tryphon (Skripchenko), Michael (Galushko), and others.

In these festive days of Theophany, we humbly pray to God, the Giver of all blessings, to send down upon Your Eminence the strengthening grace of the Holy Spirit, which fulfills and nourishes all! May the Queen of Heaven, the Abbess of the Holy Mountains, give you strength to firmly hold the abbatial staff in your hands and for many more years to rightly divide the word of Christ’s truth!

We pray with contrition and await your return, our dear Abba, to the walls of your beloved Svyatogorsk Lavra!

30th anniversary of persecuted abbot of Kiev Caves LavraThe abbot marked the occasion with a Divine Liturgy in the house church where he celebrates the services while the state continues its persecution campaign against him.

“>Last April, His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod, another persecuted hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, celebrated his 30th anniversary as abbot of the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra.

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