Patriarch Kirill awards priest for crawling through a pipe in Sudzha
Patriarch Kirill awarded Priest Alexei Skripkin. Photo: ROC's Press Service
On May 6, 2025, Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church awarded Priest Alexei Skripkin with the Order of Dmitry Donskoy, First Class, for his participation in a military operation in Sudzha, during which a group of Russian soldiers crawled through a gas pipe to get behind Ukrainian Armed Forces lines. The awarding ceremony took place in the main church of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
"It was this humble priest who crawled through that terrifying pipe," Patriarch Kirill noted during the presentation of the award. "The risk was enormous, but the courage of this Orthodox priest, his love for the Fatherland, proved stronger than any fear. Therefore, it is both worthy and righteous that this high order of the ROC is bestowed upon Father Alexei, this presbyter."
The Order of Dmitry Donskoy was established in 2004 in anticipation of the 60th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the 625th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo. It has three classes. The insignia of the First Class is represented by a gold-plated four-pointed cross.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that a model of the gas pipe through which Russian soldiers conducted the military operation against the Ukrainian Armed Forces was installed near the Church on the Blood in Yekaterinburg.
Read also
OCU cleric describes how UOC church was “politely seized” in Cherkasy region
An OCU cleric acknowledged on video that a village church in the Cherkasy region had previously belonged to the UOC before being “politely seized” and reopened.
Metropolitan Onuphry sends greetings to Kyiv Theological Academy conference
The UOC Primate addressed participants in the 18th conference of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, dedicated to the 430th anniversary of St. Peter Mohyla's birth.
Court orders TRC to remove transgender woman from military register
A Dnipropetrovsk administrative court ruled that a TRC’s refusal to remove a transgender woman from the military register constituted discrimination.
Pope Leo, King Charles unite in "Christian fraternity"
The head of the Church of England has granted the Pope the honorary title of “Confrater” as a symbol of “spiritual fellowship and ecumenical friendship.”
UCCRO, WCC discuss possible OCU membership in World Council of Churches
A World Council of Churches delegation visited Kyiv to learn about the activities of Dumenko’s organization as part of its review of the OCU’s membership application.
BOC Patriarch: Bartholomew cannot be anathematized without conciliar decision
Patriarch Daniel said that no Local Orthodox Church has anathematized the Patriarch of Constantinople, warning that misguided zeal can lead people to place themselves above the Church.