Metropolitan Pavel: Lavra monks are now bloodless confessors
Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl, abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, described the trials currently endured by the monastery brethren as a feat of confession of the faith and urged the monks to remain faithful to Christ. The hierarch made the remarks in an interview ahead of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The Lavra abbot said the current trials reveal the true meaning of the monastic struggle and urged the brethren to endure their hardships with patience. “You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth,” Metropolitan Pavel said.
According to him, despite the difficult circumstances, the brethren must continue their ministry at the Lavra. “Dear brothers, I appeal to you today with one request: there is no need to leave the holy Lavra,” the abbot stressed.
The hierarch placed particular emphasis on how the monks’ suffering can lead people to faith. “You see, when one person suffers – and there are 200 of us at the Lavra suffering for Christ – through this we bring people to God,” he said.
Metropolitan Pavel said that after he was fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet, he received thousands of messages from people urging him not to waver in his faith. “Vladyka, do not waver in your faith,” believers told him.
“We are now bloodless confessors, martyrs for the faith of Christ,” the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra said. He urged the brethren to continue enduring their trials “for Christ’s sake” and to pray for one another.
Speaking about the spiritual meaning of what is happening, Metropolitan Pavel stressed that the destruction of physical churches cannot destroy the inner temple of the human soul. “They are destroying churches of stone, but no one can destroy the temple of the soul,” he said.
In conclusion, the hierarch urged the monks to remain faithful to their calling and expressed hope that the Lord, who sees the trials of every person, will lead His children to Himself.
As the UOJ reported, media outlets of the Local Orthodox Churches have covered the murder at the Sviatohirsk Lavra.
