ROCOR Synod strips nun collaborating with OCU of her monastic status
Photo: Varvara Georgievna Larina / Facebook of Andrii Dudchenko
On May 16, 2025, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), issued a decree depriving Nun Vassa Larina of her monastic status, according to the official ROCOR website.
The decree was issued based on the decision of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops, which convened on May 9 in London. During the Synod, a letter from Bishop Luke of Syracuse was read, in which he removed Larina’s riassa and klobuk for disobedience.
Based on this letter, the Synod resolved:
To confirm the decision of Bishop Luke of Syracuse.
To prohibit the former nun Vassa from wearing monastic garments and from using the name given to her at tonsure, and to forbid her from presenting herself as a nun of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in her public appearances.
To publish this decision.
As reported by the UOJ, Larina is expected to be received into the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) soon.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that on May 9, Larina gave a lecture at the OCU’s Kyiv Theological Academy titled “‘Freedom’ and ‘Peace’ in the Age of Post-Truth.”
Read also
ROC approves procedure for receiving members of Ukrainian schismatic groups
The ROC Synod has adopted a document governing the reception of communities and clergy from the OCU, UOC-KP, and UAOC.
OCU cleric's church preference poll delivers unexpected results
When an OCU cleric from Rivne asked Ukrainians which Church they preferred, most Threads users who responded chose the UOC.
Reports to SBU of weapons in UOC churches were always false, Novynskyi says
The protodeacon said that under Maliuk, inspections began to be accompanied by public accusations against the Church without evidence.
Culture Ministry pledges to speed up seizure of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra from UOC
Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna has pledged to personally attend a court hearing in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra case.
Kamianske Eparchy honors Dnipro Icon of the Mother of God for first time
A festive service was held at a cathedral in Kamianske, where the Dnipro Icon of the Mother of God was brought out for veneration by the faithful for the first time.
Kyiv conscription officers abduct UOC priest
TRC officers reportedly abducted Maksym Kostiuchenko, a cleric of a UOC church in the Ukrainian capital.