Russian Orthodox Church Archives

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

Lockdown weighs heavily on Orthodox Christians during Easter

Apr 17, 2020

For Orthodox Christians, this is normally a time of reflection and mourning followed by joyful release, of centuries-old ceremonies steeped in symbolism and tradition. But this year, Easter — by far the most significant religious holiday for the world’s roughly 300 million Orthodox — has essentially been cancelled.

By Elena Becatoros and Daria Litvinova

Russian Orthodox Church cuts ties with Alexandria patriarch

Dec 27, 2019

The Russian Orthodox church has cut ties with the head of the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate in Alexandria following his decision to recognize Ukraine’s new independent Orthodox church.

By Vladimir Isachenkov