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'.
Read also
Shevchuk tells Budanov of UGCC’s “state-building role”
The head of the Uniates told the head of the Presidential Office that his Church was ready to partner with the state and presented him with a book on the work of special services in the Church.
Authorities decline to disclose Ukraine’s population size
The State Statistics Service acknowledged that it has up-to-date population estimates for the country, but has decided not to make them public.
Lithuanian govt vows to protect Orthodox Church from Russian intelligence
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has called for curbing the influence of Russian intelligence services on the Church, while an adviser to President Nausėda warned against labeling the entire structure a security threat.
During Ramadan, Patriarch Theodoros hosts Islamic iftar at his residence
Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria hosted a meal for Muslim workers breaking their fast in the courtyard of the Patriarchate and thanked a sheikh for his “brotherhood.”
Lawsuit filed against Patriarch of Constantinople
A Turkish official has accused Patriarch Bartholomew and dozens of clergy of “illegal activity” and violating the Treaty of Lausanne.
OCU cleric buried with Church Slavonic funeral shroud
In the Ternopil Eparchy of the OCU, a cleric was buried under a funeral shroud bearing inscriptions in Church Slavonic.