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Sviatohirsk Monks Pray for Murdered Monk Varsonofy 40 Days After His Death
The Sviatohirsk Lavra marked the fortieth day after monk Varsonofy’s death with a memorial service and prayers for his repose and for those wounded in the attack.
SVIATOHIRSK, UKRAINE — The brethren of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra gathered in prayer on October 1, forty days after the death of monk Varsonofy (Turyansky), who was killed in an armed attack on the monastery in August.
Following midnight, the monks served a memorial service for their deceased brother. During a sermon, the words of the Apostle Paul were recalled: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). The sermon emphasized that Fr. Varsonofy remained faithful to his monastic vocation until his death and witnessed to his faith in Christ.
Monk Varsonofy died on August 23 after an armed attack on the monastery brethren near St. Nicholas Church. Monk Grigory and monastery worker Andriy Kiriyenko were seriously wounded in the attack. According to the Lavra, Varsonofy had received Holy Communion on the day of his death, and his final words were: “Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ that I am a monk.” He was buried behind the altar of the Assumption Cathedral following his funeral service on August 25.
The Lavra said the killing prompted condolences and assurances of prayer from hierarchs of several Local Orthodox Churches. Patr. Porfirije of Serbia said, “No person should be put in a position in which confession of faith becomes a condition of survival,” while Metr. Rostislav of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia recalled the traditional Christian expression that “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
Monk Varsonofy, prior to his repose. Photos: svlavra.church.ua
Metr. Timothy of the Jerusalem Patriarchate also conveyed condolences, saying that prayers for the dead and wounded were being offered at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. “The Church’s response to violence has always been prayer and standing in the truth, and we have no other response,” he wrote.
On the fortieth day after Fr. Varsonofy’s death, the Lavra called on Orthodox Christians to continue remembering him in prayer and asking God to grant rest to his soul among the saints. The brethren also continue to pray for those wounded in the attack.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Bp. Job said Monk Varsonofy was a martyr in the truest sense.
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