Russian Church chaplain dies during service in war zone

Donbass, May 14, 2025

Photo: Telegram Photo: Telegram     

A military chaplain of the Russian Orthodox Church tragically died while carrying out his ministry in the war zone this week.

On Monday, May 12, Fr. Anthony Savchenko, a cleric of the Pskov Diocese, died at the age of 32, reports Patriarchia.ru.

“With deep sorrow, we report that on May 12, 2025, while performing pastoral duties in the special military operation zone, military chaplain Fr. Anthony Savchenko tragically died. Fr. Anthony was killed as a result of a HIMARS multiple launch rocket system strike,” reports the Telegram channel of the Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies.

“The deceased pastor was the rector of St. Dimitri Donskoy Church at one of the military units and a cleric of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Pskov. He zealously provided spiritual guidance to military personnel,” the message states.

Fr. Anthony was born on October 13, 1992. He was ordained to the diaconate on March 17, 2013, and to the priesthood on April 14 that year, at the age of 20.

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5/14/2025

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