The Primate of the Polish Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, has sent a message of support to the monastic community and faithful of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra, which continues its religious and humanitarian ministry amid ongoing hostilities and near isolation in eastern Ukraine.

The message was read on June 7 in the Lavra’s Dormition Cathedral following the Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of All Saints, according to the monastery’s Telegram channel.

In his letter, Metropolitan Sawa urged the monastic brotherhood to endure current hardships with courage and maintain hope in divine assistance. He emphasized that Christian life is not defined by worldly comfort but by participation in suffering followed by resurrection.

“Christ the Lord did not call us to the glory and joy of this world. He did not promise external peace and earthly prosperity. The Messiah invites us to share in Golgotha, after which, together with Him, we will experience the Resurrection,” the primate wrote.

He further reminded the monks and faithful of Christ’s words, “Fear not, little flock,” stressing that God remains with believers even in the most difficult moments of history.

Concluding his message, Metropolitan Sawa assured the Lavra of the Polish Orthodox Church’s spiritual support and prayers.

“In these difficult days of Golgotha, God is with you. We are also with you in our prayers and goodwill. Receive our love and archpastoral blessing. Endure. The Easter morning is already near,” he said.

The Sviatohirsk Lavra remains one of Ukraine’s major Orthodox spiritual centers still operating close to active conflict zones. According to the monastery, it has been without centralized electricity for more than a month. Essential services, including liturgical life, monastic work, and schooling, are sustained through generators.

Emergency and municipal services, including fire brigades and medical teams, have reportedly ceased regular visits, while deliveries of food, medicine, and other essential supplies have become increasingly difficult.

Despite these challenges, the Lavra continues its pastoral and humanitarian mission. Alongside the monastic brotherhood, approximately 200 displaced persons and civilians affected by the war are currently residing within the monastery grounds.

Metropolitan Sawa’s message is the latest in a series of expressions of solidarity from Orthodox leaders worldwide toward the Sviatohirsk Lavra, which has drawn sustained attention due to the wartime situation and the legal case involving its abbot, Metropolitan Arseniy.

In spring 2024, Metropolitan Arseniy was taken into custody and remained in pre-trial detention for nearly two years. In February 2026, a district court in Dnipro changed his preventive measure to 24-hour house arrest, allowing him to leave detention.

The case of Metropolitan Arseniy and broader concerns regarding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have been repeatedly raised on the international stage, including in appeals by Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill to primates of local Orthodox Churches and international organizations, as well as in reports by human rights groups.