Abbot Basil, Disciple of St. Justin Popović, Reposes at 83

GEILNAU, GERMANY — As reported by UOJ-Germany, Schema-Archimandrite Basil (Grolimund), founder and abbot of the Skete of St. Spyridon in Geilnau, Germany, reposed in the Lord on November 3, 2026, at approximately 10 p.m. He was 83 years old. The skete belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church, and its monastic community announced his death on its official Facebook page, asking the faithful to pray for his repose.

Born in 1943 in Muri, Switzerland, Fr. Basil studied theology in Athens and became a spiritual disciple of St. Justin (Popović) of Ćelije, who tonsured him as a monk in 1971. He later lived on Mt. Athos, where he received spiritual guidance from St. Paisios the Athonite.

In 1989, Fr. Basil and Fr. Justin (Rauer) founded the Skete of St. Spyridon in Geilnau an der Lahn. He remained its abbot and participated in the community’s theological activities, including the third St. Justin Theological Conference, held in the summer of 2025 at the St. Justin Hermitage in Unterufhausen, Germany.

Following his repose, Fr. Basil’s body will be placed in the skete’s chapel after the necessary formalities are completed, and the brotherhood will begin reading the Gospels. The faithful will be able to visit the chapel to pay their respects and participate in prayer. The community has not yet announced the date of the funeral and has asked for understanding as its members devote the coming days to prayer and farewell.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Elder Joseph of St. Nektarios Monastery reposed in the Lord at 76.