The Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra Honored the Memory of Venerable John the Recluse
At the Svyatogorsk Lavra, on the feast day of one of the monastery's most venerated saints, the faithful venerated his relics, while the brotherhood celebrated a festal Divine Liturgy.
On August 24, 2026, the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra celebrated the feast day of Venerable John the Recluse of Svyatogorsk. This was reported by the monastery's press service.
The festal services began on the evening of August 23 with an All-Night Vigil in the Dormition Cathedral. After the Polyeleos, the reliquary containing the relics of Venerable John was opened for veneration, allowing both clergy and faithful to venerate them.
On the morning of August 24, the brotherhood of the Lavra celebrated the Divine Liturgy. During the memorial litany, prayers were also offered for the recently slain monk Varsonofiy. Following the Liturgy, a molieben with the blessing of water was served.
Venerable John the Recluse lived an ascetic life at the Svyatogorsk Hermitage in the 19th century and soon after his death came to be venerated by the faithful as a wonderworker. In 1995, he became the first of the Svyatogorsk ascetics to be glorified by the Church in the ranks of the saints. His feast day is annually one of the special celebrations of the Svyatogorsk Lavra.
The Union of Orthodox Journalists previously reported that a monk was brutally murdered at the Svyatogorsk Lavra and two others were wounded.
