After a long, long period of drama, Bartłomiej "Варфоломей" Krysiuk's Batushka is changing their name to Patriarkh. The news comes shortly after the lawsuit that Krysiuk lost against Batushka founder Krzysztof "Derph" Drabikowski over the Batushka name, and after Batushka kept teasing their "final shows."
"DEAR PILGRIMS, FANS, AND FRIENDS!" wrote Krysiuk. "As you may have noticed over the past few weeks, we have been spreading the word about our latest concerts in various parts of the world. The time has come for which we have been preparing for the past few weeks – a time of FINAL CHANGES.
"Over the past two years, we have been working on new music, a new album, and a new stage. It has cost us a lot of sacrifices and effort. Along with the new musical stage, we have decided to embrace a new chapter of the band under a completely new name. This is also the perfect time for all your attention to be focused on our music and what we have to say through it, rather than on legal or personal struggles that have plagued our minds like a cancer.
"Now that we see how important it is for many people to discredit our hard work and divert attention from what really matters, our MUSIC, we have decided to lift this burden so as not to negate our efforts. We want to completely disassociate ourselves from all of this, change the band's name entirely, and start a new chapter for ourselves as individuals and for the band.
"On the other hand, we appreciate how many people value us, the dedicated fans we have all over the world, and how much we owe to you. Therefore, we want to bury all negative emotions, disputes, and dramas along with the old name Batushka.
"With new music and a new name, we aim to set a new direction and begin a new story. A story that we hope you will join us in building together worldwide because without you, our Pilgrims, it doesn't make sense!
"The change will not happen overnight, this phase will last until the end of the year. In the meantime, prepare for new music, a new image, and a new quality of performances that we want to introduce along with the new music.
"December 13th will be a symbolic date. In Melbourne, Australia, the final farewell concert of Batushka will take place, and we will collectively bury this stage during the last liturgy.
"Right after the new year, with the new publication, PATRIARKH will be born. The patriarch, along with the new covenant, will begin his reign and send his Prophet into the world! Anticipate the blessing of your new Patriarkh and the new Great Orthodoxies!"
Drabikowski and Krysiuk split in 2018, with Drabikowski plotting a way forward as Batushka without Krysiuk. Ultimately, Krysiuk was the one who moved on as Batushka and signed to Metal Blade for the 2019 record Hospodi. Krysiuk has since signed to Napalm Records for a second release without Drabikowski under the Batushka name, all while touring extensively.
Drabikowski carried on as Батюшка and released one album named Панихида in 2019, all while a court battle raged on in the background over who actually owned the Batushka name. Drabikowski appears to now be carrying on as Batushka, while Krysiuk is carrying on as Patriarkh.
Then came the recent ruling that Drabikowski owns the name, and that Krysiuk cannot carry on as Batushka without Drabikowski's permission… and here we are. Batushka (about to be Patriakh) will play their final dates as Batushka this year, and will debut themselves as Patriakh in 2025.
Patriarkh only
13/9 PL – Katowice / P23
14/9 PL – Radom / Resursa
15/9 PL – Warsaw / Proxima
20/9 PL – Krakow / Hype Park
21/9 PL – Rzeszów / Pod PalmÄ…
22/9 PL – Lublin / Radio Lublin
w/ Vltimas & God Dethroned
26/9 RO – Bucharest / Metal Gates Warm-Up
27/9 BU – Sofia / Mixtape5
28/9 AT – Vienna / Szene Wien
30/9 AT – Graz / Explosiv
1/10 CZ – Ostrava / Barrak
2/10 SVK – Kosice / Colloseum
3/10 HU – Budapest / A38
4/10 IT – Venice / Revolver
5/10 IT – Rome / Traffic
6/10 IT – Milano / Slaughter
8/10 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser
9/10 CH – Luzern / Schuur
10/10 DE – Mannheim /MS Connexion
11/10 BE – Ronse / Garage Rock Fest
12/10 UK – Manchester / Academy3
13/10 UK – Bristol / Thekla
14/10 IE – Dublin / Academy
15/10 IE – Belfast / Limelight 2
17/10 UK – Glasgow / Slay
18/10 UK – Sheffield / Corporation
19/10 UK – Birmingham – Castle And Falcon
20/10 UK – London / Underworld
21/10 UK – Milton Keynes – Craufurd Arms
22/10 NL – Eindhoven / Dynamo
23/10 NL – Zwolle / Hedon
24/10 DE – Herford / Kulturwerk
25/10 NL – Ulft /Dru
26/10 DE – Bochum / Turock Fest
Patriarkh only
29/11 TH – Bangkok / Mr.Fox Livehouse
1/12 HK – Hong Kong / MOM Livehouse
3/12 CN – Shanghai / MAO Livehouse
4/12 CN – Beijing / Omnispace
6/12 KOR – Seoul / West Bright Hall
7/12 TW – Taipei
9/12 JP – Tokyo / Shibuya Club Asia
12/12 NZ – Auckland / Tuning Fork
13/12 AUS – Melbourne / Max Watts
