Ex RCC priest who converted to Orthodoxy condemns murder in Sviatohirsk

Former RCC cleric supported the UOC after the attack on the Sviatohirsk Lavra. Photo: UOJ in Serbia

Former Catholic priest Marko Princ condemned the murder of Monk Varsonofiy at the Sviatohirsk Lavra and expressed his deep condolences to UOC believers, reports the UOJ in Serbia.

"Unfortunately, this news was not reported at all in Croatia; almost all media completely ignored it... News from the religious, church life of Ukraine is extremely rare and, worst of all, extremely biased," said Marco Princ.

The author of the Orthodox blog noted that the situation affected him personally as an Orthodox Croatian. He acknowledged that being "between a rock and a hard place" in one's own country because of faith is very difficult. "Monk Varsonofiy perished, becoming a victim of hatred toward the Church... In moments when every person would instinctively seek shelter, a weapon, protection, call for help, or try to negotiate with the attackers, he thought only of the glory of Christ."

Princ also pointed out that, before his death, the monk did not even ask Christ to protect him. At that fateful moment, he completely forgot about himself and his own survival. "Thus monk Varsonofiy wrote with his blood a sermon of the Gospel for our time... Christ called us to dedicate our lives to Him, for whoever dedicates his life to Him will remain with Him in eternity and in unity."

The former RCC cleric recalled that the blood of martyrs is the seed of new Christians. In his view, when a country has people for whom the glory of God is more important than their own lives, then that country has a future in the eyes of God. "Whatever politics and geopolitics may say about the fate of Ukraine, God will bless the country in which even in today's materialistic times... people are born who, in the face of death itself, say only one thing: Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ!" Princ concluded.

As the UOJ reported, a hierarch of the Jerusalem Church supported the Sviatohirsk Lavra brotherhood.

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