Metr. Sawa Sends Message of Hope to Svyatohirsk Lavra

Archimandrite Theophanes of the Dormition Cathedral of the Svyatohirsk Lavra reads a letter of support from Metr. Sawa of the Polish Orthodox Church. Photo: The Svyatohirsk Lavra / YouTube screenshot

SVYATOHIRSK, UKRAINE — The primate of the Polish Orthodox Church has sent a message of encouragement and support to the brethren of the Holy Dormition Svyatohirsk Lavra, a monastery that remains in a war-affected region of eastern Ukraine and continues to shelter hundreds of people displaced by the conflict.

The letter, written by Metr. Sawa, was read aloud on June 7, All Saints' Sunday, following the Divine Liturgy in the monastery's Assumption Cathedral. The message was delivered to the faithful by Archimandrite Theophanes and emphasized perseverance amid suffering, drawing on themes of Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

In his letter, Metr. Sawa reminded the monastic community that Christ did not promise earthly comfort but called His followers to endure trials with faith and hope. He assured the brethren that Orthodox Christians in Poland continue to remember them in prayer and expressed confidence that present hardships would eventually give way to joy. The Metropolitan concluded by sending his blessing and encouraging the monks to remain steadfast, saying that “Easter morning is near.”

The message comes as the monastery faces significant challenges. According to the Lavra, centralized electricity has been unavailable for more than a month, forcing the community to rely on generators to maintain essential operations. The monastery also continues to provide shelter for approximately 200 refugees and others affected by military activity. Church supporters from around the world have reportedly sent messages of solidarity and concern for the monastery and its residents.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Yelensky said international religious bodies opposed the mobilization of clergy in Ukraine.

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