Konstantin Pankrašov – Deacon of Kaunas Christ's Resurrection Church

Kaunas city guests are greeted by the marvelous vaults of the Kaunas Orthodox Church, located in the Southern part of Ramybės Park. The community of the Kaunas Orthodox Church is taken care of by diakon Konstantin Pankrašov, a seventh-generation Kaunasian.

In Lithuania I am a seventh-generation Kaunasian. I am of culturally diverse descent, as my father was an Old Believer, and my mother was Eastern Orthodox. I could say that our family does know what exile is, as back in their time my mother’s relatives came to Lithuania from the Ural area because of exile. A rebellion that broke out in Kruonis was eventually put down. People who had rebelled against the Tsar were captured and sent away to Užuralė. Meanwhile, local people who also probably had done something wrong were sent away to Lithuania. During the time when Old Believers were oppressed, my father’s relatives who were living in the suburbs of St. Petersburg fled from Russia to other parts of the world, including Lithuania. Near Kaunas there is the Narėpų House where a big Old Believer Community was formed, and where Old Believers used to live. <...>

I am of Russian descent, a Slav. People often ask me, “Who are you?”. In Russia they tell me, “You are not Russian”. In Lithuania they tell me, “You are not Lithuanian”. I always define myself as Slav living in Lithuania. Of course, I am of real Russian descent; my lineage stretches back to both Old Believers and Eastern Orthodox. The fact that I am Russian does not bother me. I love Lithuania, and I do not feel unwelcome here. In my whole life I have never had any problems here in Lithuania. I think that everything depends on the person. If you love the country, how can you not be loved? I do not understand that. Maybe it is different for other people, but I love Lithuania, I love Kaunas, and I love Lithuanianness. (2019).