Russian Orthodox Church Archives

Vatican, Russian Orthodox stress collaboration in COVID response

Feb 13, 2021

Officials from the Vatican and from the Russian Orthodox churches met Friday for a virtual discussion on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and how to collaborate in responding to the complex and multifaceted challenges posed by COVID-19.

By Elise Ann Allen

Coronavirus-denying Russian monk detained by police

Dec 29, 2020

Russian riot police stormed into a monastery Tuesday to detain a rebel monk who has castigated the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church leadership and denied the existence of the coronavirus.

By Vladimir Isachenkov

Catholicism’s accidental exile captures drama of post-Soviet world

Sep 6, 2020

Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Minsk is currently in exile in Poland after being denied reentry into Belarus by the government of longtime President Alexander Lukashenko, dubbed “Europe’s last tyrant,” who’s currently facing massive street protests after a disputed reelection victory in early August.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Russian court fines influential monk who denies virus exists

Jul 21, 2020

A Russian court on Monday ordered an influential monk, who has denied the existence of the new coronavirus and urged his followers to ignore government lockdown orders, to pay a fine for fomenting enmity through his sermons.

By Vladimir Isachenkov

Russian court fines coronavirus-denying rebel monk

Jul 7, 2020

A Russian court on Tuesday fined a coronavirus-denying monk who has challenged Kremlin lockdown orders for spreading false information about the pandemic.

By Vladimir Isachenkov

Russian Orthodox Church defrocks coronavirus-denying monk

Jul 4, 2020

The Russian Orthodox Church on Friday defrocked a coronavirus-denying monk who has defied Kremlin lockdown orders and taken control of a monastery.

By Vladimir Isachenkov

Russian monk denying coronavirus takes control of monastery

Jun 18, 2020

A rebellious Russian monk who has denied the coronavirus’ existence and urged believers to ignore the Kremlin’s lockdown orders has taken control of a monastery in the Ural Mountains.

By Associated Press

Russian Orthodox priest tends to Moscow’s COVID-19 patients

Jun 6, 2020

Father Vasily Gelevan bends over a COVID-19 patient at her apartment to administer Holy Communion and say words of comfort while clad in a hazmat suit. The bedside ministry is one of many such visits the 45-year old Russian Orthodox priest makes daily as he tends to people fighting COVID-19.

By Alexander Zemlianichenko