UOC Chancellor calls not to hush murder of Sviatohirsk Lavra monk

Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanych). Photo: Metropolitan Anthony’s Facebook page

The Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), has called on society and law enforcement not to silence the murder of a monk at the Sviatohirsk Lavra. The hierarch emphasized the need for an objective investigation into the crime that took place at the monastery.

The UOC Chancellor stressed that the attack on the monks was a tragic challenge to religious freedom. "Does someone have the right to kill with impunity simply because another person is 'of the wrong faith,' 'of the wrong confession,' 'of the wrong church jurisdiction'? The Christian conscience cannot accept the idea that human life has different value depending on which church community a person belongs to," the bishop addressed.

Metropolitan Anthony noted that the Lavra brethren were beaten and stabbed precisely for their faithfulness to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He also linked the tragedy to the long-standing atmosphere of pressure on the canonical Church. According to him, the initiators of raider seizures of churches, deputies voting for unconstitutional laws, and media spreading slander have created a situation in which UOC believers are perceived as second-class people.

"And today I especially want to address all those on whom the investigation of this tragedy depends: do not let this death dissolve into cold public indifference," the archpastor appealed. "Not for the sake of any political force. Not for the sake of anyone's reputation. For the sake of a human being. For the sake of the memory of the murdered monk."

In conclusion of his address, Metropolitan Anthony expressed words of support to the abbot of the monastery, Metropolitan Arseniy, and all the Sviatohirsk brethren. "May the Lord grant rest to the soul of monk Varsonofiy in the dwellings of the righteous. May He heal the wounded. May He strengthen the Sviatohirsk brethren. And may He grant us all the courage to remain Christians... above all, when faithfulness to Christ comes at a great cost," the bishop concluded.

As the UOJ reported, on August 23, unknown persons brutally murdered a monk of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, Varsonofiy (Turiansky), and seriously wounded two more people. At present, the police have opened criminal proceedings on charges of premeditated murder. The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Eastern Region’s Defense Sector is overseeing the procedural aspects of the investigation.

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