Vigil Held for Iryna Zarutska One Month After Deadly Charlotte Stabbing
Community gathers in prayer and remembrance, Serbian Orthodox clergy offer words of comfort.
CHARLOTTE, NC — On Monday, September 22, 2025, more than 1,000 mourners gathered in Charlotte to honor the memory of Iryna Zarutska, who was tragically killed in a stabbing last month. The candlelight vigil, held one month after her passing, became a moment of communal grief and prayer, drawing family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues united in remembrance.
The event was organized by the Mecklenburg County Republican Party, along with West Charlotte Ministries, and St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church. Mecklenburg County GOP Chairman Kyle Kirby emphasized that the event was not political but meant to honor a community member who had tragically lost her life.
A friend of the Zarutska family, Yelena Stephenson, told local news that "This city needs some kind of a resolution and changes in the law. We cannot have criminals and put the public in danger. Hopefully, her death was not in vain and some changes will come.”
With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America, Fr. Srebrenko Vidakovic addressed the gathering on behalf of St. Simeon's Serbian Orthodox Church and the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. In his heartfelt sermon, Fr. Srebrenko offered words of consolation rooted in Scripture and the hope of eternal life.
“Our hearts still feel the pain of loss, and the emptiness left by her absence is very real,” he said, reminding mourners that even Christ Himself wept at the tomb of Lazarus. “Yet, as we cry, we hold hope that we will see our beloved ones again in the Heavenly Kingdom.”
Quoting from the Gospel of John, he emphasized the promise of the Resurrection: “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25–26). He also drew on St. Paul’s words in Romans, affirming that nothing—not even death—can separate the faithful from the love of God.
Fr. Srebrenko invoked the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, who, he said, intercedes for the departed and comforts the grieving, just as she stood at the foot of the Cross.
The vigil concluded with the Orthodox prayerful declaration, “Memory Eternal,” chanted by assembled faithful from local Serbian, Russian and Greek parishes. “May Iryna’s family and friends know that she is not forgotten, neither by us nor by God,” Fr. Srebrenko said.
On behalf of the Serbian Orthodox Church, he extended deepest condolences to the family and all who mourn. “May the Lord comfort her family, relatives, friends, and all who mourn, turning this sorrow into quiet trust in the Risen Christ,” he said.
The vigil stood as a testimony to the love and unity of the Charlotte community in the face of tragedy—and to the enduring hope that faith offers amid grief.
Fr. Srebrenko Vidakovic's sermon is below, in full, for the edification of the reader.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Dear family, relatives, friends, neighbors, colleagues of our beloved Iryna, Dear all,
On this evening, we gather here as a community to remember and lift up our prayers for our dear beloved Iryna, one month after her repose. Our hearts still feel the pain of loss, and the emptiness left by her absence is very real, and this tragic loss deeply touches every heart and every soul here present and even wider, and we all know that it will take time for these wounds to begin to heal.
Yet, as we gather here together in this sorrow, overwhelmed by the grief, we also see a beautiful expression of empathy and love — among all who are united in this mourning and prayer, standing here side by side, with one heart and one soul, for our beloved Iryna.
Let us remember that even Christ wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus. He understands our sorrow. Yet, He did more than weep — He raised Lazarus from the dead, showing that death has been conquered. So, even as we cry, we hold hope that we will see our beloved ones who were departed before us, again in the Heavenly Kingdom.
In the Gospel of John, with these words “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he my die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die”. (John 11:25-26), the Lord Himself comforts us. When we believe in Christ as our Lord and Savior, and the reality of His Resurrection, our life does not end at the moment of death. Our beloved departed, have passed into a life where there is no pain, no sorrow, and no tears -where God is all joy and all comfort.
Speaking to Romans, Apostle Paul reminds us, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Romans, 8:38-39). In this truth we find profound peace. Even in our grief, God’s presence surrounds us, and His promises endure forever. Love for our departed beloved ones does not cease; it continues through our constant prayer, through memory, and through our hope and faith in eternal life.
We also turn to the Most Holy Theotokos, the Blessed Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, who prays for us and intercedes for us and for all the departed. Just as she stood at the foot of the Cross, sharing in the sorrow and hope of the crucified Christ, she now shares in our sorrow and our prayers and carrying them before her Son — Jesus Christ. May she, together with all the saints and angels, bring peace, comfort and rest to soul of our beloved Iryna, heal the wounds of her loved ones and of our hearts and our souls, and strengthen our hope and faith in the promise of Resurrection.
The beautiful and calming words of prayer “Memory Eternal,” reminds us that this is not only a remembrance — it is the truth of eternal life in God’s love. God remembers those He loves, and when God remembers them, they live forever. May Iryna’s family and friends know that she is not forgotten, neither by us nor by God, and that we will keep her memory forever in our thoughts, hearts and in our prayers.
Let us entrust Iryna to the mercy of God, to the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, and to the intercessions of all the saints. May the Lord comfort her family, relatives, friends and all who mourn, turning this sorrow into quiet trust, into trust in the Risen Christ our Lord, and may He keep us steadfast in faith, so that one day, we may be reunited with Him and our beloved Iryna in His eternal Kingdom. Amen!
On behalf of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serban Orthodox Church, the parish congregation of St. Simeon the Myrrh-flowing Serbian Orthodox Church, and on my own behalf, I extend deepest condolences to the family, friends and all who are grieving the tragic loss of our beloved Iryna. May her memory be eternal. Amin!
Thank you all!
Presbyter Srebrenko Vidakovich
Parish priest
We wish to thank Fr. Srebrenko for allowing us to publish his sermon in full, and his service to the community in Charlotte.
May God remember Iryna in His Kingdom.
