Shelled church burns to the ground at another Svyatogorsk Lavra skete (+VIDEO)

Svyatogorsk, Donetsk Province, Ukraine, June 6, 2022

Photo: Facebook Photo: Facebook Yet another skete of the Holy Dormition-Svyatogorsk Lavra in the Donetsk Province, Ukraine, was shelled and destroyed over the weekend.

The main monastery has been shelled several times, and this is already the fourth skete to suffer serious damage. Four monastics were killed and several others were severely injured as a result of the latest shelling of the main monastery.

This time, the beautiful wooden church at the All Saints Skete, located to the southeast of the main monastery, completely burned to the ground on Saturday, reports the Donetsk Diocese.

The skete church and cemetery were earlier destroyed in the godless 20th century. Starting in 2005, two new wooden churches were built at the skete in the traditions of Russian wooden architecture from the 16th-17th centuries.

A video published by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church shows the church before and after:

​

Photo: Facebook Photo: Facebook Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky blamed the shelling on the Russian army and called the canonical Ukrainian Church to “more decisive conclusions and a clear condemnation of those who condone aggression.”

Conversely, the Russian military says that it isn’t conducting any combat operations in the Svyatogorsk region, and the Russian Ministry of Defense has blamed the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for the shelling.

Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!

6/6/2022

See also
With Met. Onuphry’s blessing to live by old Statutes, we will maintain unity, says Met. of Gorlovka (Donetsk) With Met. Onuphry’s blessing to live by old Statutes, we will maintain unity, says Met. of Gorlovka (Donetsk) With Met. Onuphry’s blessing to live by old Statutes, we will maintain unity, says Met. of Gorlovka (Donetsk) With Met. Onuphry’s blessing to live by old Statutes, we will maintain unity, says Met. of Gorlovka (Donetsk)
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine understands that there are dioceses that don’t approve of the resolutions from last Friday’s Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the changes introduced into the Church’s Statutes, and has blessed them to continue to live according to the old Statutes, including commemorating His Holiness Patriarch Kirill in the Divine services. 4 monastics killed, 2 injured in shelling of Svyatogorsk Lavra 4 monastics killed, 2 injured in shelling of Svyatogorsk Lavra 4 monastics killed, 2 injured in shelling of Svyatogorsk Lavra 4 monastics killed, 2 injured in shelling of Svyatogorsk Lavra
Unfortunately, the Lavra was hit again on May 30, and for the first time, several monastics were killed and injured, in addition to a number of laypeople. Church at another Svyatogorsk Lavra skete destroyed by shelling Church at another Svyatogorsk Lavra skete destroyed by shelling Church at another Svyatogorsk Lavra skete destroyed by shelling Church at another Svyatogorsk Lavra skete destroyed by shelling
Another skete of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Holy Dormition-Svyatogorsk Lavra suffered severe damage from shelling on Thursday, May 19. Monastics report: Ukrainian army continues shelling damaged Donetsk monastery housing 300 citizens (+VIDEO) Monastics report: Ukrainian army continues shelling damaged Donetsk monastery housing 300 citizens (+VIDEO) Monastics report: Ukrainian army continues shelling damaged Donetsk monastery housing 300 citizens (+VIDEO) Monastics report: Ukrainian army continues shelling damaged Donetsk monastery housing 300 citizens (+VIDEO)
The monasteries, founded by the beloved Elder Zosima (Sokur, †2002), are a focal point in the current conflict, as they continue to follow the traditions of their founder, who was strongly in favor of Russian-Ukrainian spiritual unity. Donetsk hierarch meets with priests of damaged churches Donetsk hierarch meets with priests of damaged churches Donetsk hierarch meets with priests of damaged churches Donetsk hierarch meets with priests of damaged churches
Met. Hilarion emphasized the urgent need to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims as soon as possible. A report on the work already done was presented and plans were made to further provide the necessary aid. Svyatogorsk Lavra continues to receive and shelter hundreds of refugees Svyatogorsk Lavra continues to receive and shelter hundreds of refugees Svyatogorsk Lavra continues to receive and shelter hundreds of refugees Svyatogorsk Lavra continues to receive and shelter hundreds of refugees
The Ukrainian Orthodox faithful have responded to the needs of the refugees, sending humanitarian cargo, including food, clothes, diapers, medicine, etc., to the monastery.
Comments
Ioann6/9/2022 1:12 am
More details: “Ukrainian commanders decided to avert a smaller-scale version of [a Mariupol-style] siege in Sviatohirsk, a town lying on the low bank of the Seversky Donest. Trying to trap Ukrainian troops in the town, Russian forces had been firing artillery at their only remaining route across the river, a bridge near an Orthodox monastery that was also frequently hit. On June 13, the Ukrainian army pulled back, blew up the bridge and took up positions on the river’s high bank.”
Ioann6/7/2022 4:32 pm
The New York Times published a piece on June 6 (updated June 7) of on the ground reporting. Headline: Battered by Russian Shells, a Monastery Remains Loyal to Moscow — “Over the past week or so, the front line around the town of Sviatohirsk advanced to within about a mile of the monastery gates. Russian artillery appears to be targeting a bridge over the Siversky Donets River — only 15 to 20 yards from the wall of the monastery — and Ukrainian positions nearby. But predictably with unguided projectiles, there are wayward shots that hit the monastery instead.”
Here you can leave your comment on the present article, not exceeding 4000 characters. All comments will be read by the editors of OrthoChristian.Com.
Enter through FaceBook
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Enter the digits, seen on picture:

Characters remaining: 4000

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×