Leader of Russia’s Old Believers dies during cross-bearing procession

MOSCOW (RNS) — The head of the Russian Orthodox Old Believers’ Church, Metropolitan Andrian, suffered a heart attack and died Aug. 10 during a traditional 150-mile cross-bearing procession in east-central Russia.

The church’s Council of Bishops elected 79-year-old Archbishop Ioann of Yaroslavl and Kostroma to replace Andrian as leader of the church, which represents the largest grouping of Russia’s Old Believers, who split from mainstream Orthodoxy over liturgical reforms in the 17th century.

Andrian, 54, had previously suffered two heart attacks and had cardiac surgery, the Interfax news agency reported. He collapsed on the banks of the Gryadovitsa River in the Kirov Region while leading the procession, held annually to commemorate the appearance of the icon of St. Nicholas in the 14th century.