Moscow, March 29, 2017
Photo: Vk.com Investigators are looking into the discovery of Hieromonk Bartholomew (Potapova), found dead in a forest hut in the Komi Republic town of Inta, 1,025 miles northeast of Moscow. Fr. Bartholomew went missing in January, the local department of the Russian Investigative Committee reported to Interfax-Religion.
Volunteers who were leading the search for the missing priest report that he was last seen by his roommate in December, 2016, with word of his disappearance becoming public in January of this year. Fr. Bartholomew served in the Edinoverie (canonical Old Rite) parish in Ust-Tsilma. He was known to lead a rather secluded life, and loved to take long walks in the forest, go mountain climbing, and generally to spend time alone.
The department has reported that tourists discovered the body of a man in a forest hut about 60 miles from Inta in a remote spot. They were only able to report the find a few days later when they returned from their hike.
Law officials arrived to investigate the scene. In the building near the corpse was found a board on which was etched the words “Here lived Hieromonk Bartholomew. He relinquished his passport. 666 Accepted death for Christ.”
“Rescuers helped bring the body to town, where relatives confirmed on Tuesday that the reposed was the missing priest. His cause of death is yet to be determined,” local authorities reported.
The investigation is underway. Foul play has been ruled out for now.
