Monk brutally murdered, two others wounded at Sviatohirsk Lavra
St. Nicholas Church at the Sviatohirsk Lavra. Photo: svlavra.church.ua
On August 23, 2026, a group of unidentified assailants attacked the brotherhood of the UOC’s Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra, monastery representatives told the UOJ.
The attack occurred at around 11:00 a.m. near St. Nicholas Church in the upper part of the monastery. Monk Varsonofiy was brutally stabbed to death, and his face was mutilated beyond recognition.
Monk Grigory, whose lung was punctured by a knife, and novice Andriy were also wounded. Both are in serious condition at a hospital in Kharkiv.
Investigative and operational measures are currently underway.
The UOJ will continue to follow developments.
The UOJ previously reported that a UOC archimandrite had been beaten during the seizure of a cathedral in Kremenchuk.
Read also
Reports to SBU of weapons in UOC churches were always false, Novynskyi says
The protodeacon said that under Maliuk, inspections began to be accompanied by public accusations against the Church without evidence.
Culture Ministry pledges to speed up seizure of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra from UOC
Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna has pledged to personally attend a court hearing in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra case.
Kamianske Eparchy honors Dnipro Icon of the Mother of God for first time
A festive service was held at a cathedral in Kamianske, where the Dnipro Icon of the Mother of God was brought out for veneration by the faithful for the first time.
Kyiv conscription officers abduct UOC priest
TRC officers reportedly abducted Maksym Kostiuchenko, a cleric of a UOC church in the Ukrainian capital.
Court grants DESS lawsuit to dissolve UOC’s Rovenky Eparchy
The appeals court partially granted the DESS lawsuit seeking to dissolve the Rovenky Eparchy but rejected the request to seize its property, citing a gap in Ukrainian legislation.
Met. Meletiy consecrates house of worship for UOC community in Dankivtsi
Members of the persecuted UOC Intercession parish in Dankivtsi have converted a house into a place for communal prayer and worship services.