May 24, 1955 - April 12, 2026

Dear friends, 

Larisa Kostyreva, a beloved member of the Moscow Center of the Fellowship of Friends, completed her task at 10:55 a.m. (Moscow time) on April 12, 2026, dying from cancer with complications due to influenza. Her friends in Moscow note that her death coincided with the Russian Orthodox Easter holiday of resurrection.

Larisa was born on May 25, 1955. She was 70 years old on her last birthday. She joined the Fellowship on May 10, 2007, and was able to visit Apollo once.  She supported students emotionally and lived for a time in the Moscow teaching house.

Larisa became an icon painter at an early age. Her work became renowned, displaying a mastery of ancient icon painting techniques. One of her icons is shown below.

 She will be missed.

On behalf of all who knew you, we give thanks. 

The Elysian Society

“What death? There was no fear because there was no death. In place of death there was light.”

– Leo Tolstoy