Three Optina monks murdered on Easter morning 1993
What the video says
On Easter morning 1993, April 18, three Eastern Orthodox monks were murdered at Optina Pustyn monastery in Russia. Monks Ferapont and Trofim were ringing the bells in the bell tower after the Paschal Liturgy when a man entered and stabbed them both.
Ferapont died at the scene and Trofim survived only briefly. The attacker fled toward the skete and stabbed hieromonk Vasily in the back as he walked to hear confessions; Vasily lived for several hours before dying.
Investigators found the weapons were specially made with markings linked to the satanic occult and identified Nikolai Averin as the accused. The three monks are buried together at Optina Pustyn where their memory continues to be honored.
Key moments
- Easter morning 1993, April 18, three Eastern Orthodox monks murdered at Optina Pustyn monastery in Russia
- Monks Ferapont and Trofim at bell tower ringing bells after Paschal Liturgy
- Attacker stabbed both; Ferapont died at scene, Trofim survived briefly
- Attacker fled to skete, attacked hieromonk Vasily from behind, stabbed in back
- Vasily remained alive several hours before dying
- Weapons specially made with markings connecting to satanic occult
- Nikolai Averin identified as accused
- Three monks buried together at Optina Pustyn, memory honored more than 30 years later
On Easter morning 1993, April 18, three monks at Optina Pustyn Monastery in Russia were killed on the monastery grounds. Hieromonk Vasily Roslyakov, Monk Ferapont Pushkarev, and Monk Trofim Tatarnikov had walked out before dawn to ring the bells announcing the Resurrection. Ferapont and Trofim were in the bell tower after the Paschal Liturgy when a man entered and stabbed them both.
Ferapont died at the scene. Trofim survived only briefly. The attacker then fled toward the skete and stabbed hieromonk Vasily in the back as he walked to hear confessions. Vasily remained alive for several hours before dying. Investigators found the weapons were specially made with markings linked to the satanic occult. Nikolai Averin was identified as the accused. The three monks are buried together at Optina Pustyn, where their memory continues to be honored more than thirty years later.
The account presents the events as they occurred and notes how the monks' lives, shaped by prayer and repentance, have led many Orthodox Christians to remember them not only as victims of a crime but as men prepared for death.
Main points
- Easter morning 1993, April 18, three monks killed at Optina Pustyn Monastery
- Ferapont Pushkarev and Trofim Tatarnikov stabbed in bell tower after Paschal Liturgy
- Hieromonk Vasily Roslyakov stabbed in back while walking to hear confessions
- Weapons bore markings connected to satanic occult; Nikolai Averin named as accused
- Three monks buried together at Optina Pustyn; memory honored over thirty years later