Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), has expressed condolences to Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk and the monastic community of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra following the death of Monk Varsonofy.

He also called for prayers for the recovery of Monk Grigoriy, who was wounded in the attack, and for the preservation of the monastery.

Monk Varsonofy, whose secular name was Vasiliy Turianskiy, was killed on August 23 after a group of unidentified attackers assaulted residents of the monastery near the Church of St. Nicholas. Another monk, Grigoriy, and a novice, Andrey Kirienko, were injured. Authorities have opened a criminal investigation, which remains ongoing.

In his letter, Metropolitan Nicholas described the Sviatohirsk Lavra as a site of particular importance to the spiritual memory of both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. He recalled that during the 20th century, the Holy Mountains provided refuge to displaced people, including monastics forced to leave Pochaiv.

The ROCOR hierarch also highlighted the monastery’s connection with St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, one of the most revered saints of the Russian diaspora. Several items associated with the saint are kept at the Sviatohirsk Lavra.

“This connection is not merely a historical memory for us,” Metropolitan Nicholas said. He added that it reflects the unity of Orthodox monasticism and Christian compassion despite geographical distance and historical trials.

The metropolitan called on the faithful to pray for the repose of Monk Varsonofy, the recovery of Monk Grigoriy and all those injured, as well as for the protection of the Sviatohirsk monastery and the strengthening of its monastic community.

He also paid tribute to the people who continue to seek shelter within the monastery’s walls, noting that the Lavra has received and supported those who lost their homes as a result of the armed conflict.

The Sviatohirsk Lavra is located in Ukraine’s Donetsk region and has remained in an active conflict zone for several years. The monastery has repeatedly come under shelling. In 2022, Archimandrite Galaktion and Monk Aristokliy were killed during attacks. Monk Varsonofy was later buried beside them behind the altar of the Dormition Cathedral.

Varsonofy devoted the final years of his life to the monastery. Before entering the Lavra, he worked as an engineer and in the financial sector and held two university degrees. He joined the Sviatohirsk monastic community in 2013, became a novice in 2015, and took monastic vows in 2019. His duties included serving as a refectorian, gardener, and greenhouse worker.

Orthodox media described the attack on the Sviatohirsk Lavra as a shocking tragedy and martyrdom. The Union of Orthodox Journalists previously reported on the incident. International human rights advocates, including UOC lawyer Robert Amsterdam, have called for those responsible for Monk Varsonofy’s killing to be identified and brought to justice.

Photo: Funeral service for Monk Varsonofy / Sviatohirsk Lavra