Prayers offered for slain Sviatohirsk Lavra monk on ninth day after his death

Memorial service for Monk Varsonofiy in the Dormition Cathedral of the Sviatohirsk Lavra on the ninth day after his death. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra Telegram channel

On August 31, 2026, the ninth day after the death of Monk Varsonofiy (Turiansky), the brotherhood of the Sviatohirsk Lavra held a memorial service for him in the Dormition Cathedral, the Lavra’s Telegram channel reported.

The funeral service took place after the Midnight Office. The monastery recalled that, according to Church tradition, the departed are commemorated with special prayers on the ninth day after death. The entire brotherhood of the Sviatohirsk Lavra joined together in prayer for the repose of Monk Varsonofiy.

Monk Varsonofiy was killed on August 23 during an armed attack on members of the monastery community. Two other people were seriously wounded. According to eyewitness testimony, before his death he professed his faith with the words: “Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ that I am a monk!”

The Lavra stressed that these words became Monk Varsonofiy’s final confession of faith and a testimony to his fidelity to Christ and his monastic calling. The brotherhood called on the faithful to pray for the repose of the slain monk and expressed hope that the Lord would receive his soul into His eternal dwellings.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that prayers were offered in Toronto for the repose of the monk slain at the Sviatohirsk Lavra.

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