Serbian Patriarch Porphyrius expressed his condolences regarding the tragedy at the Svyatogorsk Lavra

His Holiness Patriarch Porphyry of Serbia, on behalf of the entire Serbian Orthodox Church, sent a message of condolence to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The reason for this sorrowful message was the murder of Monk Varsonofius and the serious wounding of two other monks at the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra. According to , the Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the news of the tragedy was received with deep sorrow by the Serbian Church.

In his message, the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church emphasized the monastery’s special role as a spiritual refuge for people suffering from the consequences of war. The Patriarch noted that “violence within a home that was protecting people wounds more deeply than the destroyed walls.” He also called for prayers for the repose of the deceased monk and for the speedy recovery of the injured residents of the monastery.

The Serbian Patriarch particularly emphasized that a person’s faith should not become a condition for survival, and expressed hope that the monk’s violent death would not be used as a weapon to serve anyone’s interests. In closing his letter, Patriarch Porphyry called on everyone to pray to the Lord that He may grant eternal rest to the newly departed monk Varsonofius in the Kingdom of His imperishable love, and send comfort to all those affected and to the victims of war.

As a reminder, the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra issued an official appeal to the public, calling for assistance in the treatment and recovery of the monastery’s residents, who were seriously injured during the armed attack that took place on August 23, 2026.