The Soborny District Court of Dnipro has ordered the detention of Metropolitan Arseny of Sviatohirsk for 60 days on charges of “justifying the aggression of the Russian Federation,” according to a statement from the Sviatohirsk Lavra press service.

This marks the second arrest of the hierarch within two weeks. On October 23, Metropolitan Arseny had been released from pre-trial detention on bail, but was immediately rearrested by officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

According to the Union of Orthodox Journalists, the charges fall under Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which concerns the justification, recognition as lawful, or denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. Investigators allege that during public speeches in May and June 2022, Arseny denied Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and made statements critical of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, blaming them for the deaths of clergymen and the destruction of churches.

Despite reports of the metropolitan’s deteriorating health, including hospitalization for a hypertensive crisis, the court ruled to keep him in custody. During the final hearings, witnesses said Arseny lost consciousness several times and was taken away by ambulance, only to be brought back to court shortly afterward to continue the proceedings.

During the session, Metropolitan Arseny thanked his parishioners for their prayers and support, saying he viewed the court’s decision “not as a defeat, but as a victory.”

“Do not think we have lost. We remain with God and with a clear conscience — that is our greatest victory,” he told his supporters.

He emphasized that no one had spoken against him in court despite significant media attention and said that “thousands of believers around the world” continue to pray for him. He expressed gratitude to his followers for their faith and love, which he said sustain him through these difficult times.

Arseny also claimed that during his hospitalization doctors diagnosed him with critical hypertension but were unable to keep him in care because of an order to return him immediately to court.

Following the hearing, the metropolitan was sent back to a pre-trial detention facility, where he will remain until December 10, 2025. This decision came despite appeals from several members of parliament who had offered to act as guarantors for his release and to arrange proper medical treatment.