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The Independent UK

National

Peter Smith

A US Orthodox nun became an online influencer. Then she spoke out against the war

United States Russia Vladimir Putin Orthodoxy Moscow Ukraine Alexei Fordham University OCA The Russian Orthodox Church

Sister Vassa Larin, a prominent American Orthodox nun, public speaker and YouTube presenter, smiles while recording one of her videos in Vienna, Austria, on Wednesday, Sept 3. 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos) - (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

An Orthodox nun, once a leading female intellectual within her highly patriarchal faith, has been stripped of her status after publicly opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Before 2022, Sister Vassa Larin was widely known for teaching thousands on YouTube about saints and holy days, earning widespread respect in a religion where all clergy and bishops are male.

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