Police Scotland said the body was recovered at around 7:35am on May 6. A coastguard spokesperson confirmed that Kirkwall Coastguard Rescue Team and an RNLI lifeboat from Kirkwall were sent to the incident at Stronsay, reported at about the same time. Police said inquiries are at an early stage and the death is being treated as unexplained.
A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course. Justin Evans, also known as Brother Ignatius, was last seen at the Golgotha Monastery on Papa Stronsay shortly before midnight on April 11. He is described as around 6ft tall, with short hair and a dark beard, and speaks with a New Zealand accent.
Father Michael Mary claimed Justin Evans had been suffering from hypothermia in the weeks leading up to his disappearance.
He was last seen wearing a white robe. Inspector David Hall said extensive enquiries are ongoing to trace Justin and concerns are growing. Police are working with partner agencies and extensive searches are being carried out in the island area, he added.
Police appealed for anyone who visited the island with information on Justin or his whereabouts to contact them. According to Daily Mail - News, Father Michael Mary, founder of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, claimed Justin Evans had been suffering from hypothermia in the weeks leading up to his disappearance. nz, Father Michael Mary described how coastguards, helicopters and police searched the island for Evans.
We tragically lost Brother Ignatius Maria to the sea.
He also said Evans went by the name Brother Iganatius Maria and had lived at the monastery for about two years. Evans had three brothers who were all monks, and two of them also lived on the island, according to Father Michael Mary. The order sent a message saying Evans left his monastic cell and had been missing since.
Father Anthony Mary, vicar general, was the last to speak to Evans hours before, and Evans had been fortified with confession the night before, the message added. The Diocese of Aberdeen expressed deep sadness at the disappearance and presumed death. The Church presumed the monk is dead and said Justin Evans had been lost to the sea.
Police and coastguard have not been able to find his body.
A Requiem mass was held for Justin Evans, and his family travelled to Orkney for the mass and attended a ceremony to raise a memorial cross on Papa Stronsay island. The order's social media post stated they tragically lost Brother Ignatius Maria to the sea, and that police and coastguard have not been able to find his body. The post also noted Brother Ignatius had just made his First Profession on March 19 and had been to confession just before his death.
nz, a spokesperson for the order in New Zealand described how everyone knew and loved Evans, and he probably would have become a priest. Golgotha Monastery is a traditional Catholic monastery established in 1999 on Papa Stronsay, an island with a population of just nine at the 2022 Census. nz, a worker at a shop in Orkney described how monks from Papa Stronsay used the post office but had lived a more hermetic lifestyle in recent years, and they had their own boat which was likely the only way off the island.
Brother Ignatius had just made his First Profession on March 19.
The water temperature is still very cold and swimming is not recommended, according to the shop worker. nz, local councillor Dr Stephen Clackson described the island as not entirely isolated and said he visited the monastery last year, finding it impressive.
Brother Ignatius had been to confession just before his death.
Coastguards, helicopters and police searched the island for Evans.
Evans went by the name Brother Iganatius Maria and had lived at the monastery for about two years.
Everyone knew and loved Evans, and he probably would have become a priest.
Monks from Papa Stronsay used the post office but had lived a more hermetic lifestyle in recent years, and they had their own boat which was likely the only way off the island.
The island is not entirely isolated and he visited the monastery last year, finding it impressive.