Bulgarian priest condemns Church’s silence over murder of Sviatohirsk monk
Priest Vladimir Doychev. Photo: spzh.bg
Bulgarian Orthodox priest Economos (Archpriest) Vladimir Doychev condemned the silence of Church bodies over the murder of Monk Varsonofy at the Sviatohirsk Lavra during a sermon at a church service. The text of the sermon was published by UOJ-Bulgaria.
The priest stressed that despite the Church’s constant calls to emulate the example of the ancient martyrs, no official Church body has issued a statement on the death of a modern-day confessor. According to him, this silence is rooted not in theological but in political considerations, as the issue has become “inconvenient” amid the war.
Fr. Vladimir compared such conduct to Pharisaism, noting that the true Church cannot remain silent when its children give their lives for confessing Christ.
In conclusion, Fr. Vladimir Doychev called on the faithful to demand that their own Church remain true to what it is – to have the courage to call martyrdom martyrdom rather than adapt the Church’s position to the political circumstances of the moment.
As the UOJ reported, an Antiochian hierarch said the murder at the Sviatohirsk Lavra must be solved. The attack on the monastery took place on August 23, 2026, leaving one monk dead and two residents of the monastery seriously wounded.
Read also
Dumenko: Negotiating with UOC on its terms would mean surrender for OCU
The OCU head expressed confidence that his organization would emerge victorious on Ukraine’s “religious front.”
OCU rep claims UOC parishes in Germany may threaten its national security
OCU cleric Petro Bokanov believes expansion of UOC structures in Germany is a threat to German national security.
UOC priests consecrate cardiology center wards in Uzhhorod
Priests of the Mukachevo Eparchy served a moleben for the health of doctors and patients of the cardiology center in Uzhhorod.
Metropolitan Onuphry explains how to live so as not to grieve Mother of God
The Primate of the UOC said in a sermon on the Protection feast at the Intercession Monastery that one must live by God's commandments even when they are inconvenient for the modern world.
Drone damages UOC church in Cherevkivka, Donetsk region
The Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the Sloviansk Deanery was damaged by a drone .
UOC-KP opens "metochion" in Georgia
"Patriarch" Nikodim of the UOC-KP reported the creation of a "metochion" in Georgia to strengthen spiritual ties outside Ukraine.