In 2020, the Easter holidays coincided closely with the rise of the COVID epidemic in Russia. In March, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church finally complied with government authorities, who urged closing the church to parishioners - but numerous bishops and priests ignored the Patriarch’s call. Some even expressed open and vocal disobedience.

How unusual is the current defiance of the patriarch’s admonition, and what may be its implications? In this episode of the PONARS Eurasia Podcast, Maria Lipman chats with Xenia Loutchenko to learn more about what the COVID pandemic means for the future of the Russian Orthodox Church.