Polish Church calls murder of Sviatohirsk Lavra monk a tragedy

St. Mary Magdalene Cathedral in Warsaw (left) and Sviatohirsk Lavra (right). Photo: UOJ in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

The office of Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, Primate of the Polish Orthodox Church, commented to UOJ in the Czech Republic and Slovakia on the attack at Sviatohirsk Lavra, calling the brutal murder of Monk Varsonofiy an immense tragedy.

Jarosław Chonczar, a representative of the Primate’s office, expressed deep sorrow and strongly condemned violence in a war zone. “Every armed conflict brings tragedy. Raising one’s hand against another person is also a tragedy.”

The representative of the office expressed profound condolences to the abbot and the entire monastic community. The Polish Church is offering prayers for the spiritual strengthening of the brethren of Sviatohirsk Lavra. “We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of life and death, may receive the soul of the slain Monk Varsonofiy into His Heavenly Kingdom.”

The full statement from the Primate’s office reads:

Every armed conflict is a tragedy. To raise one’s hand against another person is also a tragedy.

It was with deep sorrow that we received the news of the murder of one of the brethren of Sviatohirsk Lavra. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of life and death, may receive the soul of the slain Monk Varsonofiy into His Kingdom.

Trusting in God’s mercy, we also pray for those responsible for this crime, that they too may receive His mercy and come to understand the shamefulness of what they have done.

Respectfully,

Jarosław Chonczar

As the UOJ reported, prayers were offered for the slain monk at Sviatohirsk Lavra on the ninth day after his death.

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