Serbian archimandrite calls Sviatohirsk monk’s murder a sin of Cain

Archimandrite Chrysostom (Nešić). Photo: Namasija Monastery

Serbian Archimandrite Chrysostom (Nešić) commented on the murder of Sviatohirsk Lavra monk Varsonofiy (Turiansky), describing what happened as a “sin of Cain,” UOJ-Serbia reports.

The archimandrite prayed for the repose of the murdered monk’s soul, as well as for his parents, relatives and the brethren of the monastery. He said the question of why Monk Varsonofiy was killed and what prompted the murder remains unanswered, with the answer known only to God.

Fr. Chrysostom (Nešić) called the incident yet another “Cain-like murder,” which, in his view, was rooted in envy, hostility and malice under demonic influence.

As the UOJ reported, a German theologian also condemned the murder of the Sviatohirsk Lavra monk, calling it a tragedy for the entire Christian world. Monk Varsonofiy (Turiansky) was killed on August 23, 2026, when a group of unidentified individuals attacked members of the Lavra brotherhood near St. Nicholas Church at Sviatohirsk Lavra. According to a forensic examination, the monk died from a through-and-through gunshot wound to the head and neck. Monk Gregory and Andriy Kyriienko, a refugee staying at the monastery, were also wounded in the attack.

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