UOC metropolitan: Sviatohirsk Lavra’s pain is the pain of the entire Church

Metropolitan Victor. Photo: Khmelnytskyi Eparchy

Metropolitan Victor of Khmelnytskyi and Starokostiantyniv, on behalf of the clergy and faithful of the eparchy, expressed condolences to Archbishop Arseniy, abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, over the tragic death of Monk Varsonofiy (Turianskyi) and the serious wounding of two members of the monastery community, the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy press service reports.

Metropolitan Victor expressed his condolences to the monastery brethren and to the family and loved ones of the slain monk, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

In his letter, the hierarch noted that a monk’s life is, from the very beginning, a sacrifice to God, while a violent death within the walls of a monastery speaks more loudly than any words about the price of faithfulness to Christ and the Church. He stressed that this is not the first time the Sviatohirsk Lavra has suffered losses during the years of war.

“The monastery, located almost on the line of fire, has been struck before as it sheltered its brethren and hundreds of people who sought refuge within its walls,” Metropolitan Viktor said. According to him, the Sviatohirsk Lavra is suffering together with the entire Ukrainian people and the Church: “The pain of one monastery is the pain of the entire body of the Church, and we share it with you.”

The metropolitan assured that the clergy and laity of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy are joining the Church-wide prayer for the repose of the newly departed monk, for the recovery of those injured, and for the brethren of the Lavra.

As the UOJ reported, a priest recounted the last words of the slain Sviatohirsk Lavra monk.

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