OCA Priest on Kirk Assassination: 'When the Wicked Perish, There is Jubilation'

NOTE: Since the original publication of this article, the Union of Orthodox Journalists has learned that Fr. Juvenaly Repass is a priest of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) who is currently doing missionary work with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC). He is on loan to the Metropolis of Buenos Aires and South America and is under the supervision of Metropolitan Iosof.

SEPT. 12, 2025 — Fr. Juvenaly Repass, Archimandrite of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), has made several inappropriate comments regarding the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in the public Facebook group "Progressive Orthodox Christianity."

The OCA's website lists him as serving in Guatemala, but according to Fr. Juvenaly's own Facebook page he is a missionary priest currently serving in Brazil.

Fr. Juvenaly started the conversation himself with two different posts in the aforementioned Facebook group, one saying that, "Whatever this man was, he was not a martyry like the Christian martyrs," in reference to Kirk. Another post said that Kirk "did not deserve to be murdered," and that "violence is evil," but with "all that being said" Kirk did not deserve to be honored with flags flying at half-staff. The OCA clergyman also said that Kirk said "some things that were true, but he also lied and spread misinformation and disinformation and hate."

These two posts prompted numerous comments, with Fr. Juvenaly participating in the conversation. In response to someone saying, "you can just say you're glad he's dead," the priest responded by quoting Proverbs:

"When the wicked perish, there is jubilation."

The archimandrite also said that "the evil things Kirk said should be known" without providing any particular quotes or evidence, and that if those things aren't shared "many will be fooled by those who are hailing him as a great man."

Photo: Screenshot from Progressive Orthodox Christians Facebook group

Most concerning was Fr. Juvenile's seeming endorsement of a graphic post. One commenter said:

"I am very sorry he died. It would have been helpful to hear him tell us, gurgling through his own blood, how it feels to be rubbed out by the very weapons he defended. How 'necessary deaths' to protect the (Second Amendment) includes his own."

The clergyman responded with "^" as an arrow pointing up at the comment above is a typical expression of agreement with what was said.

Photo: Screenshot from Progressive Orthodox Christians Facebook group

In the same group, Fr. Juvenaly has recently shared an AP interview with nun Barbara (née Vassa) Larin which states that she was ousted as a nun for speaking against Russia's war in Ukraine. 

The truth is that Larin was removed from the monastic habit for repeated disobedience, particularly for her repeated endorsement of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Not surprisingly, she was quickly received into the false church after the verdict from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR).

While Fr. Juvenaly expresses support for Larin, the OCA does not recognize the legitimacy of the OCU and therefore does not recognize the legitimacy of Larin's projected public image .

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