The hostilities that have unfolded in Kursk region in connection with the crossing of the state border of the Russian Federation by Ukrainian troops, namely shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, have severely affected the Gornal St. Nicholas Belogorsk Monastery of the Kursk Eparchy, located in the village of Gornal, Sujan district, Kursk region, several kilometers from the border with Ukraine.
According to the abbot of the monastery, hegumen Pitirim (Plaksin), the new main monastery church, which was being prepared for consecration, was practically destroyed by the targeted fire of the AFU, opened around 7 a.m. on August 6, 2024. Only a burned-out box of walls remained of the temple. In addition, caught fire and seriously damaged the other, Pokrovsky temple, as well as the fraternal building of the monastery.
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On August 7, most of the monastery's brotherhood was able to evacuate. Seventeen people left. During the evacuation, one man, a laborer, died. Two more people from among the brethren of the monastery continue to stay in the monastery, there is no contact with them.
The situation around the monastery currently remains uncertain. According to unverifiable reports, the monastery is under control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is not possible to obtain additional information about the people remaining in the Gornal monastery and the condition of the monastery's buildings due to the active hostilities in the area.
Information about other churches of the Kursk diocese that may have been damaged during the shelling is being clarified.
Information about other churches of the Kursk diocese that may have suffered during the shelling is being clarified.
Synodal Department for Relations between the Church and Society and Mass Media/Patriarchy.ru
