Bishop Job of Stuttgart condemned the attack on the monks of the Svyatogorsk Lavra

Bishop Job of Stuttgart issued an official statement expressing his deep sorrow over the tragic events at the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra. The incident, which occurred on August 23, resulted in the death of Monk Varsonofius (of Turya) and injuries to several people, including Monk Gregory and refugee Andrei Kirienko, according to the official website of the Department for External Church Relations ( ).

Bishop Job emphasized that this event has been a severe trial not only for the monastic community of the Lavra, which is actively engaged in helping refugees, but also for the entire Orthodox world.

In his statement, Bishop Job drew attention to the lack of reaction from a number of media outlets, calling this a manifestation of modern information propaganda. According to the bishop, the murder of a representative of the Church, which finds itself in a complex legal situation in Ukraine, evokes memories of the persecution of the early Christians. Bishop Job also noted that, based on the testimony of survivors, the deceased monk Varsonofy died a martyr’s death while remaining a witness to the truth of Christ.