Georgian Church representatives condemn murder of Sviatohirsk Lavra monk

Monk Barsanuphius (Turyansky). Photo: Svyatogorsk Lavra

The Georgian Union of Orthodox Journalists published comments from Georgian public figures on the murder of Monk Varsonofiy (Turyansky) at the Sviatohirsk Lavra.

Zviad Sekhniashvili, head of the Society of Chokhosani under the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, called what happened “appalling.”

“It is a terrible thing when the Church, clergy, and Church figures are persecuted and oppressed for political purposes – all the more so when their lives are targeted. This is an utterly outrageous event. May God grant the brutally murdered monk the Kingdom of Heaven,” he said.

Sekhniashvili also expressed hope that the conflicts would end and peace would be established.

Rusudan Shaishmelashvili, a journalist with the Public Relations Service of the Georgian Patriarchate, described the monk’s murder as an especially tragic reflection of what is happening in the modern world.

“I want to respond to the tragedy that occurred in Ukraine on August 23 – specifically, the brutal murder of a monk at the Sviatohirsk Lavra. When something like this happens in the 21st century, perhaps this is the Second Coming. For me, this is the Second Coming – that a monk who devoted his entire life to Christ could be murdered so mercilessly,” she said.

As the UOJ reported, a political consultant explained why the authorities are silent about the monk’s murder in Sviatohirsk.

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