Patriarkh

Not to be confused with Patriarch.

Patriarkh (stylised as PATRIARKH in English and ПАТРИАРХЪ in Cyrillic) is a Polish black metal band based in Białystok. The band has its origins in Batushka, from which it splintered after a conflict over the rights to the band name. Their music and lyrics are inspired by the Eastern Orthodox Church, traditional hymns, songs, history and conflicts of the church and regional folk-lore. The band members wear interpretations of Analavos of the Great Schema (see Eastern Orthodox schemas), Mitres, and Klobuks during live performances.

Patriarkh
"Sacrum Profanum" (photo by Jacek Wisniewski)
Background information
Also known as	Batushka (2019–2024)
Origin	Białystok, Poland
Genres	Black metal
Years active	2019–present
Labels	Napalm
Spinoff of	Batushka
Members	Bartłomiej Krysiuk Paweł Jaroszewicz Rafał Łyszczarz Jakub Śliwowski Jacek Wisniewsky Michał Staczkun Mateusz Krysiuk Klaudia Łyszczarz

History

Patriarkh was created after splits within the band Batushka. After Bartłomiej Krysiuk and Batushka founder Krzysztof Drabikowski engaged in a legal conflict over the rights to the name, each member continued using the name Batushka.^[1]

It was announced on October 18, 2017 via the Metal Blade Records website, Batushka had joined the label's artist roster.^[2] Conflicted by this agreement and its obligations, Krzystof Drabikowski was opposed to collaborating with the band moving forward. By the end of 2018, Bart and the Batushka band members had separated from Drabikowski, but both parties continued to use the same name.

In April 2019, the band shared their own statement that the members of the Batushka band had signed their trust with Metal Blade Records and would release new music in June 2019.^[3] One month later, through his band's social media pages, Bartłomiej Krysiuk shared the court documents which stated that he had legal rights to perform and release music under the name "Batushka".^[4][5] The band continued to release music and tour under the name for the next five years, until they ultimately lost the case in 2024.

In November 2022, Napalm Records signed the band to their artist roster and would release new music "very soon". This announcement was made public while the group was still operating under the previous name "Batushka".^[6] According to an interview with OutBurnOnline, Patriarkh signed with Napalm for their next two records.^[7]

Between June 2019 and January 2024, the band released a full-length LP called Hospodi, two EP's called "RASKOL" and Carju Niebiesnyj, two live-albums, and a compilation album MARIA. In this 5-year period, the band toured Europe and the UK several times, two extensive tours in North America, each spanning across Canada, United States, and Mexico (First in 2022, and again in 2023), Japan & Southeast Asia in both 2023 and 2024.

Rename to Patriarkh (2024–present)

In May 2024, the Polish courts made their final ruling, granting the rights to Drabikowski. Krysiuk said he would appeal the decision, while continuing with their 2024 plans.^[8] He failed the appeal the decision, and the courts maintained their original ruling, stating that Krysiuk did not have the rights to the Batushka name.

Shortly after May 2024, Krysiuk's band announced a new series of concerts. Those shows were promoted as the "last shows of Batushka ever".^[9][10] These tours, which had been booked in 2023, and were permitted to continue under the name "Batushka". These tours included:

• Latin America Prophecy 2024 (Aug. 1 – Aug. 15)^[11]
• Czarna Pashca II (Sept. 6 – Sept. 22) w/ Shadohm & Terrordome
• Epic Prophecy for Europe (Sept. 26 – Oct. 26) w/ VLTIMAS & God Dethroned^[12][13][14]
• Asia Prophecy 2024 (Nov. 29 – Dec. 13)^{[15][16][17][18]}

For the "Czarna Pascha II" tour of Poland, the band would use the temporary moniker "ex-Batushka/PATRIARKH". They introduced a new stage setup, additional musicians and new robes (most notably with Варфоломей dawning a white tunic and hood). Also introduced was a revised setlist composed of songs from the entire Batushka catalogue, followed by a set of brand-new Patriarkh songs. The band integrated four new songs into its setlist: "Wierszalin III", "Wierszalin IV", "Wierszalin VIII", "Wierszalin IX".

On September 9, 2024, Bartłomiej Krysiuk, through his band's social networks, announced officially that they will no longer use the name "Batushka" and they will rebrand as "Patriarkh" (stylized in Cyrillic as Патриархъ).^[19]

On September 20, 2024, the band held a special live-stream pay-per-view event of the concert in Krakow. This concert was streamed in real-time, allowing fans from around the world to witness the transformation of Batushka into Patriarkh. The event was available to watch for an additional 48 hours after the concert.^[20] The name change was made official after the last concert of their "Australasia" tour on December 13, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia.^{[21][22][23][24]}

The first official release of new music under the Patriarkh name was delivered on October 15, 2024. The song "ВЕРШАЛИН III" (Lat. WIERSZALIN III) was released to streaming platforms, along with a premiere of a music video directed by the band's long-time film collaborator "Hiatsyntos".^[25] Along with the digital release, a special limited edition 12" Extended Play was sold on the band's 'Epic Prophecy for Europe' tour, and remaining copies would later be sold through the bands webstore. Three color variants were available from the band: black, white, and gold. Napalm Records had a red variant available exclusively through their store. In total, 500 copies were made, and the b-side featured a special engraving.

Prokrok Ilja

The band's second major label full-length studio album, Prorok Ilja, was released on January 3, 2025 via Napalm Records.^[26] Prorok Ilja was recorded at several studios across Poland between January and May of 2024.^[27] The album features many guest performances, as well as a full Symphony Orchestra.

Prorok Ilja details a true story that happened in the village of Stara Grzybowszczyzna, in the Podlachia region of Poland in the 1930s and 1940s. Eliasz Klimowicz was a self-proclaimed prophet who cultivated a following and created a religious sect within the orthodox faith of the region.^[28]

On January 3, 2025, Patriarkh held the premiere concert of Prorok Ilja, called "Sinfonia Orthodoxia", in Łódź at the Klub Wytwórnia.^[29] This was the inaugural concert of the band under the Patriarkh name. This concert notably featured a male choir (Singing Heads Choir), and Symphony Orchestra (Squad Kulturalny Orchestra).

Band members

• Варфоломей - Vocals (2015-present)
• Лех - Drums (2018-present)
• Монах Тарлахан - Guitar (2018-present)
• Монах Борута - Guitar (2020-present)
• Хиацынтос Яца - Choir (2018-present)
• Матеуш - Choir (2023-present)
• Матюшка - Choir (2024-present)

Part-time members

• ВФП - Live Choir; Live 3rd Guitar; Live Bass
• Архангел Михаил - Studio Guitar; Live 3rd Guitar; Live Choir; Composer on Prorok Ilja

Previous members

• Artur - Guitar (2017-2019); Composer on Hospodi
• Дедушка - Bass (2018-2021)
• Мартин - Guitar (2019-2021)
• Домниос - Live Bass (2021-2023)
• Юродивый - Choir (2016-2023); Session performance on Prorok Ilja
• Язычник - Choir (2019-2023); Session performance on Prorok Ilja

Timeline

Discography

**From 2019 to 2024, the band had several releases under the name "Batushka".**

Studio albums

• Hospodi (Metal Blade Records, 2019)
• ПРОРОК ИЛЬЯ / Prorok Ilja (Napalm Records, 2025)

Extended plays

• "Р​А​С​К​О​Л" / "Raskol" (Witching Hour Productions, 2020)
• ​Ц​А​Р​Ю Н​Е​Б​Е​С​Н​Ы​Й​ / Carju Niebiesnyj (Witching Hour Productions, 2021)

Live albums

• Ч​Е​Р​Н​А​Я Л​И​Т​У​Р​Г​И​Я / Black Liturgy (Witching Hour Productions, 2020)
• Ч​Е​Р​Н​Ы​Е Р​И​Т​У​А​Л​Ы / Black Rituals - Liturgy in Budapest 2021 (Via Nocturna, 2024)
• ЧЕРНАЯ ПАСХА / BLACK PASCHA - Пасха в Кракове 2024 (Via Nocturna, 2025)

Compilations

• М​А​Р​И​Я / Maria (Witching Hour Productions, Via Nocturna, 2022)

Singles

• ВЕРШАЛИН III / Wierszalin III (Napalm Records, Via Nocturna, 2024)