Russian Orthodox Church reports death of "warrior-monk" in Ukraine

ROC's Monk Pitirim (Vlasov) died in Ukraine with a weapon in his hands. Photo: Prihod

Clerics of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) are fighting in Ukraine with weapons in hand. The death of one such cleric was reported on March 14, 2025, by Archbishop Savva Tutunov, a vicar of Patriarch Kirill.

"Eternal memory to warrior-monk Pitirim," the ROC hierarch wrote on Telegram.

According to the Russian media outlet Prihod, the deceased Pitirim (Vlasov) was a monk of Raifa Bogoroditsky Monastery in the Kazan Eparchy.

It is known that he took monastic vows under the Lesser Schema on August 30, 2024, pledging to renounce worldly life. However, by the fall of the same year, Vlasov decided to volunteer for the war. It remains unclear whether the monk received the blessing of his abbot to leave the monastery and take up arms.

"While on the front lines, he fearlessly served his homeland and comrades in battle. During a combat mission, he sustained a fatal shrapnel wound," Prihod reported.

As a reminder, Patriarch Kirill previously told President Putin that the Russian Church fully supports the 'Special Military Operation'.

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