On September 30, 2025, due to the deteriorating health of the vicar of the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk, he was taken to a hospital in the city of Dnipro for a heart and vascular examination, as well as an examination by a cardiologist and an arrhythmologist. The arrhythmologist stated the need for heart surgery, and the doctors also recommended that they undergo a comprehensive check by specialists of other profiles.
The day before, on September 29, the scheduled meeting of the Slavyansky court did not take place due to problems with Internet connection.
The issue of recusal of the presiding judge T.A. Khaustova was considered on the morning of October 1. The court rejected the lawyers' application and left her as the presiding judge, despite her violation of the law. T.A. Khaustova, being on recusal, sent a letter to the SIZO stating that Vladyka Arseny should continue to be detained despite the fact that the term of the preventive measure ended on September 29. This is a gross violation of the legislation of Ukraine.
On October 1, at 1 p.m., she opened a regular preparatory meeting on the case of Metropolitan Arseny. During the hearing, Vladyka became ill, and the lawyer asked to interrupt the meeting.
Not immediately, but after persistent requests from the defense, the judge nevertheless announced the postponement of the hearing to 13:00 on Friday, October 3.
Also, the meeting of the Dnipro Court of Appeal, which did not take place on September 25, was scheduled for 10:30 on October 16. Thus, although the term of the previous preventive measure expired on September 29, the appeals filed against the relevant decision of the Slavyansk Court by Vladyka's lawyers have not yet been considered. In addition, although there is no court decision legitimately extending the measure of restraint, Vladyka Arseniy remains in jail.
Metropolitan Arseny has been held in the Dnipro pre-trial detention center since April 25, 2024. Starting from the end of September 2024, all hearings on Vladyka's case are held online.
Metropolitan Arseny needs a comprehensive medical examination and treatment.
The disregard of Vladyka Arseny's poor health on October 1 by the judges of the Slavyansk Court is not the first such case. On July 21 of this year, when the vicar of the Lavra became ill during the hearing, Judge I.Y. Falin also did not want to interrupt the hearing until the pre-trial detention center staff came to the bishop's defense.
Due to the refusal of Judge T.A. Khaustova to satisfy the lawyers' request to hold online meetings from mid-July until almost the end of September 2024, Metropolitan Arseny was escorted to court and back to the SIZO in a paddy wagon designed for intra-regional, that is, short-term movements, in a "glass". In total, Vladyka survived at least 10 convoys. For Vladyka Arseny, who suffers from a number of chronic diseases, these moves were akin to torture and undermined his health.
The inhabitants of the Holy Dormition Monastery of Svyatogorsk ask for prayers for the imprisoned Metropolitan Arseny and the brethren of the Lavra.