Met. Theodosiy: I believe slain Sviatohirsk monk joined ranks of martyrs

Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy. Photo: Facebook of the Cherkasy Diocese

Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv expressed his belief that Monk Varsonofiy, who was killed at the Sviatohirsk Lavra, suffered a martyr’s death. In an interview with the Greek news agency Romfea, the UOC hierarch shared his view of the tragic events at the monastery.

According to the bishop, Ukrainian politicians and the media are deliberately fueling religious hostility in the country. “Politicians and the media in Ukraine have stirred up such intense hatred toward the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in civil society that simply being a member of the Church – let alone a clergyman or monk – now puts one’s life at risk,” Metropolitan Theodosiy said.

As an example of this hatred, the Cherkasy hierarch pointed to the brutal attack on the Sviatohirsk monastery. Metropolitan Theodosiy stressed that despite the political slogans voiced by the attackers, the monks chose to confess Christ.

“I believe that the monk of the Sviatohirsk Lavra who was killed for glorifying the name of Christ has now joined the ranks of the martyrs of our Church,” the Cherkasy bishop concluded.

On August 23, 2026, unidentified men in military uniforms attacked the brotherhood of the Sviatohirsk Lavra. The assailants shot and killed Monk Varsonofiy (Turiansky), who died from a through-and-through gunshot wound to the head and neck. The attackers also wounded Monk Gregory and Andriy Kyriienko, a refugee who was living at the monastery.

As the UOJ reported, a Serbian archimandrite described the killing of the Sviatohirsk monk as the sin of Cain.

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