Svyatogorsk, Donetsk Province, Ukraine, October 4, 2022
Photo: Odessa Diocese (YouTube)
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Agafangel, the Odessa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church collected and delivered significant humanitarian aid to the Holy Dormition-Svyatogorsk Lavra in the Donetsk Province, which has suffered greatly during the ongoing war.
“As you know, as a result of the fighting, churches and buildings of the Lavra have been damaged and destroyed, there’s no light, and communication lines are disrupted,” the Odessa Diocese states.
The diocese also reminds that it has been helping the Lavra, its inhabitants, refugees, and all the needy who have found temporary shelter there for eight years now.
The Lavra was able to receive pilgrims for the first time this year late last month, for the feast of the Synaxis of All Saints of Svyatgorsk.
In a video report on the Odessa Diocese’s YouTube channel, His Eminence Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk, the abbot of the Lavra, thanks Vladyka Agafangel and the diocese for the aid it delivered, emphasizing how important it is that the Church be unified in these trying times.
According to Archdeacon Andrei Polischuk, one of the Odessa clerics who delivered the humanitarian aid, although the Lavra has suffered so greatly in recent months, there is a feeling of calm and grace there.
Meanwhile, the Odessa Diocese also handed out 300 food packages (including flour, sugar, three types of cereals, pasta, butter, canned corn, peas and beans, canned fish and meat, condensed milk, tea, waffles, cookies and chocolate) to internally displaced persons, large families, the disabled, and others in need throughout the city on September 30.
Funds can be sent to help the Lavra on the site of the Odessa Diocese or with the following bank details:
“PROTECTION AND MERCY” CHARITABLE FUND (БЛАГОДІЙНИЙ ФОНД «ПОКРІВ ТА МИЛОСЕРДЯ»)
EDRPOU 43611540
UA 56 305299 00000 26001044912781 (card 5169330521251063)
Bank “Privatbank” («Приватбанк»)
Sort Code (МФО) 305299
***
On Saturday, March 12, several buildings at the main Lavra were damaged, including the Holy Dormition Cathedral. The bridge connecting the monastery to the city of Svyatogorsk was also damaged.
Two explosions occurred at the Lavra again on May 4, breaking the windows and doors of the monastery churches. Two refugees were also wounded and had to undergo surgery.
It was hit again on June 1, and for the first time, several monastics were killed and injured, in addition to a number of laymen.
On May 6, the Holy Protection Church at the Lavra’s St. George Skete in the village of Dolina was completely destroyed by shelling.
On May 10, the roofs of several buildings were destroyed, window were broken, and flower beds planted by the nuns were destroyed when the St. John of Shanghai Skete in the village of Adamovka was shelled.
On May 19, the church at the Skete of the Joy of All Who Sorrow Icon of the Mother of God in the village of Bogorodichne, was destroyed.
On June 4, the beautiful wooden church at the All Saints Skete completely burned to the ground after being shelled.
On July 22, the St. John of Shanghai Skete was shelled again, causing a fire in the guest house.
On August 3, video was published showing another fire at the main Lavra location caused by shelling.
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