London, May 17, 2025
L: Former Sr. Vassa at a schismatic Liturgy. R: Even as a nun, she often appeared without her habit. Photos: Facebook
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia has returned Sr. Vassa (Larin) to simple lay status, stripping her of her monastic habit.
The former Sister Vassa, host of the Coffee with Sr. Vassa show and a professor of liturgical studies at the Catholic Theological Faculty of the University of Vienna in Austria, made a trip to Kiev last week during which she scandalized the faithful by her contacts with the schismatics and persecutors of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine.
She gave lectures to students of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine’s” Kyiv Theological Academy, spent time with several priests who apostatized from the canonical Church and have been suspended, interviewed a high-level government representative who is dedicated to banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and even attended Liturgy with schismatics at a parish led by another apostate priest.
It was even reported that next year former Sister Vassa will join the faculty of the schismatic academy, which describes her as “a friend of our autocephaly.”
In light of such behavior, the ROCOR Synod took disciplinary action against her:
Discussing church disciplinary matters, the archpastors reviewed the correspondence of His Grace Bishop Luke of Syracuse with Varvara Georgievna Larina, formerly Nun Vassa, in which His Grace informs her of the removal of her cassock and veil for disobedience. The Synod confirmed Bishop Luke’s decision prohibiting the former Nun Vassa from wearing monastic clothing (thus removing her from the ranks of the monastics) and using the name given at her tonsure, as well as from representing herself as a nun of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in her statements.
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