Elder Gabriel (Bunge) on UOC, Sviatohirsk martyrdom and judgment of history
UOJ-Germany visited Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel (Bunge) in Switzerland – a renowned Orthodox theologian, patristics scholar and author of books on prayer. The 86-year-old elder spoke candidly about the killing of a Sviatohirsk Lavra monk, whom he considers a martyr, the UOC’s faithfulness during years of persecution, and the fate of Metropolitan Arseniy. He also explained why he believes Patriarch Bartholomew acted under pressure over Ukraine and what, in his view, awaits those responsible for the schism before the judgment of history.
Roveredo. A small village in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, not far from Lugano. Here, at the Monastery of the Exaltation of the Cross, Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel (Bunge) has lived for more than 40 years. A renowned Orthodox theologian and author of books on prayer and monastic life, he receives visitors from around the world who come seeking spiritual guidance.
The conversation with the well-known Swiss elder was remarkably open and candid – with no attempt to choose convenient wording or avoid difficult subjects. We are publishing the interview as closely as possible to Father Gabriel’s own words. At the end, he smiled and told the UOJ correspondent: “Well, who or what should I be afraid of? I’m already 86 years old.”
On August 23, 2026, a group of unidentified individuals attacked members of the brotherhood of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra. The tragedy shocked the Orthodox world. According to one of the survivors, the attackers were wearing military uniforms and demanded a response to the slogan “Glory to Ukraine!” Monk Varsonofiy was killed, while Monk Gregory and novice Andrii were seriously wounded. The last words of Father Varsonofiy heard by the brethren were: “Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ! ... I am a monk.”
– How did you learn about the tragedy at the Sviatohirsk Lavra?
– We learned about it through social media. We also saw photographs, including those of the murdered monk, who, as I was told, had been stabbed.
I have never visited the Sviatohirsk Lavra myself. I only made it as far as Pochaiv. But Father Eusebius [the elder’s assistant – Ed.] knows the monastery personally.
And I must say that this concerns not only the murdered monk, but the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church as a whole, with which we feel a deep personal bond through our personal acquaintances and friendships.
I am deeply impressed by the steadfastness of our brothers, who remain faithful under the most difficult circumstances, even unto death – literally unto death. After all, this monk could easily have saved his life if he had complied with his killers’ demand. But he did not.
He answered as a Christian: glory belongs to God alone. I am deeply moved by this, and I must say that I am proud to be a member of this Church myself.
After all, it is one Church. The precise organizational form of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is, so to speak, not my concern.
– How do you view what is happening to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church?
– The persecution has been going on for many years – it began back in 2014.
The faithfulness shown by its clergy and laity is one of the golden pages of Church history. You know that I am a historian, and I always look at events from a historical perspective. Whether the people themselves fully realize the significance of what is happening, I cannot say.
They remain faithful to their faith and to the canonical Church, even though renouncing it would bring them many advantages. Instead, they are prepared to endure beatings, as Vladyka Longin [Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny – Ed.] did.
I had never before seen anyone with such enormous bruises around both eyes. I did not even know such a thing was possible. I have visited his monastery, although Vladyka himself was not there at the time.
I also think of poor Vladyka Arseniy [Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk – Ed.], who is so dear to me and who rebuilt the Sviatohirsk Lavra practically from scratch. All of this is documented – there is plenty of material online. First he became abbot of the restored monastery, and later a metropolitan.
He endured two years in prison and did not allow himself to be broken. Yet he is a very humble and peace-loving man. Eventually, he was transferred to house arrest – probably out of fear that he might die in prison. And that, of course, would have looked very bad.
I know where he is now. And I can only imagine what this man went through when he saw the photographs and learned that one of his monks had been murdered.
I still remember what Vladyka was like – not despairing or despondent, but deeply grief-stricken – when he had to conduct the funeral of a monk who was killed when a shell accidentally struck the monastery. I can still see it before my eyes. He served the funeral himself – in tears.
And now this. Back then it was an accident; no one did it deliberately. But now a monk has been deliberately and brutally murdered. It is terrible.
– Do you consider the murdered Monk Varsonofiy a martyr?
– As I already told you in our private conversation, I do not know whether those who are doing all this believe in God. It is not for me to judge. But they do not believe in the judgment of history.
Someday all of this will come to an end.
Personally, I consider the murdered monk a martyr and believe he should be glorified in the rank of martyrs. He gave his life for Christ.
Many people have also told me that His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry will be glorified among the saints after his repose. I know him personally and hold him in very high esteem. But history will be written later.
– What do you mean by the judgment of history?
– People often say that history is written by the victors. But that is only half true. Something else is also true and demonstrable: you can destroy as many documents as you like, but enough material will always remain to reconstruct the course of a conflict or any other events.
History will preserve everything the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has endured – the Church that all the Local Churches always recognized as the only canonical Church in Ukraine. Patriarch Bartholomew did as well.
– Why do you think his position changed?
– We know that Patriarch Bartholomew did not act of his own free will. I will tell you something that few people know.
I know from a reliable source that Patriarch Bartholomew told a Greek ambassador that if the Americans had not put such intense pressure on him, he would never have done it – he would never have split the Church.
I know from a reliable source that Patriarch Bartholomew told a Greek ambassador that if the Americans had not put such intense pressure on him, he would never have done it – he would never have split the Church.
Of course, all of this was done in order to weaken Russia. At that time, the Ukrainian Church was more closely connected with the Moscow Patriarchate than it is today. I mean purely in institutional terms.
That is precisely what disappoints me. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens – also a worthy man – came under tremendous pressure as well and gave in.
But why did these men, our primates, not simply put their panagias on the table and say: “No, not with me. I do not want to stain my good name”? Personally, I cannot understand it.
A bishop or patriarch who has caused a schism in the Church, whatever the reasons, cannot wash away that sin even with his own blood. That is what the Holy Fathers teach. Not even with his own blood. It is terrifying. The very thought fills me with horror. In the chapters of Church history that will deal with our time, all of this has already been written.
If only the Patriarch had repented ... But no. I have known him personally since we were young, so his actions do not surprise me. All of this is infinitely sad.
Thank God, it is not our task to judge our brothers: Christ alone is the Judge of all. I do not know by what measure I could judge all this fairly, and I thank God that it is not my task.
As a theologian and historian, however, I cannot help asking: do these people really not understand that they will not withstand the judgment of history – and therefore the judgment of all humanity?
I would not want my name associated with anything like this. We have two thousand years of Church history behind us, and we know very well how history ultimately judged this or that patriarch, this or that pope.
And so, once again, with the deepest respect and reverence, I bow before this faithfulness unto death – the faithfulness of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
