Svyatogorsk, Donetsk Province, Ukraine, October 6, 2022
Photo: abo.media
The monks of the Holy Dormition-Svyatogorsk Lavra in the Donetsk Province, which together with its many sketes has been severely damaged in the ongoing war, consider that the trials and sufferings they endure are sent to them by the Lord for the sake of their salvation.
“We don’t bear any special ascetic feats here,” His Eminence Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk, the abbot of the monastery, said in a video report by the Odessa Diocese, which recently delivered humanitarian relief to the Lavra.
“It’s just that the Lord appoints a time of sorrows for every person for the healing of his soul. You can run away from them … but if they’re salvific they’ll be sent to us somewhere else too. If the Lord has given us to experience some sorrows, difficulties, or shocks, then we must stay in our place and endure them without murmuring,” the hierarch-abbot said.
“After all, longsuffering gives birth to perfection,” he added.
“Like the Righteous Job, if we’ve received good things from God, then why shouldn’t we receive sorrows? Even in the midst of these difficulties, the Lord sends us consolation in the form of help from our Church, in the form of prayers, for which we thank God and our brothers and sisters,” Met. Arseny concluded.
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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
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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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