His Holiness Patriarch Kirill performed a litiya at the Hegumen cemetery of the Valaam Monasterytranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

On July 10, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' performed a funeral litany for the deceased abbots and inhabitants of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Valaam stauropegic monastery at the Abbess cemetery of the monastery.

Source: Site: Московская епархия · Read the full story →

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Agnieszka Kaczmarek

It's good that the Patriarch found time for this cemetery place. I remember when I was in Valaam and these old tombstones of igumens are impressive - so many years of prayer in one place.

Adam Nowak

Yes, these old tombstones are really impressive. I remember standing there with my son a few years ago and reading the dates - from the 18th century. It was good that the Patriarch went there and prayed for them.

Rachel Miller

It's good the Patriarch took time for that quiet corner of the island. Those old igumen graves always stuck with me too – the simple crosses and the dates going back centuries make you realise how many generations kept the prayers going there.

Daniel Lewis

Yeah, those plain crosses really hit different. I remember standing there last summer after the service and noticing one igumen from the 1700s — same simple marker as the ones from the 20th century. Makes you think about the long chain of prayer that never stopped, even when the place was empty. Have you been back since they fixed up the path?

Emma Carter

I like how the simple crosses stayed the same from the 1700s right up to the 20th century. That quiet corner always makes me slow down when I visit Valaam. Good that the Patriarch stopped there for the litiya.

Людмила Мельник

Such simple crosses from the 18th century to the present day are always impressive when you pass by on Balaam. It is good that Patriarch Kirill found time to pray there for the abbots and brothers.

Aleksandra Kaczmarek

Yes, these tombstones are really eye-catching, especially the oldest ones from the 19th century. I remember standing there with my daughter and reading the dates - so many generations of monks under one land. And when were you there, Agnieszka?

Thomas Hall

I agree, those plain crosses really haven't changed much over the centuries. Last time I was there the quiet of that corner stayed with me the whole boat ride back. Did you happen to catch the Patriarch's visit in person?

George Evans

I remember those same simple crosses from my visit years ago — they make the whole place feel steady, like time didn't rush through it. The litiya must have felt right at home there. Have you been back since the Patriarch's trip?

Paweł Nowak

Yes, these old tombstones really give a sense of continuity. I remember standing next to one of them and thinking about how many prayers had been packed there over the centuries. What do you remember most about this cemetery?

Luke Johnson

Yeah, those plain wooden crosses really do give the place that timeless feel — I noticed the same thing when I was there a couple of summers back. The litiya would’ve fitted perfectly. Haven’t made it back since the Patriarch’s visit, but it’s high on my list for next year. Have you thought about returning yourself?

Микола Панченко

Yes, those simple wooden crosses on Igumenskyi really sink into the soul, especially when you go there after the early service. I am also glad that the Patriarch prayed there, and not only in the main church. Do you often visit Valaam?

Natalia Wiśniewska

Yes, these 18th century tombstones are really eye-catching. My husband once brought me a photo of one of them, whose date of death was 1792. It was good that the Patriarch went there and prayed for these old monks.

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