UPTsMP METROPOLITAN PARTICIPATES IN INAUGURATION OF "HEAD OF LUHANSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC"
Metropolitan Ioanniky, who until 2012 ruled the Luhansk and Alchevsk diocese and was a member of the Holy Synod of UPTsMP, and now is retired with the appointment as rector of the St. Nicholas Transfiguration cathedral of Luhansk, participated in the ceremony of the inauguration of the head of the self-proclaimed "Luhansk People's Republic," Igor Plotnitsky, to whom he gave a prelate's blessing, Religiia v Ukraine reports, referring to photo reporting of Uainfo.org.
Another rector from the St. Nicholas Transfiguration cathedral, Archpriest Bogdan Fedkiv, came to support the head of LPR along with Metropolitan Ioanniky.
On 4 November, in the Hall of Columns of the Luhansk provincial council, which had been seized by militants, both clergymen congratulated Igor Plotnitsky, who took the oath on the Bible and pledged loyalty to the LPR.
Former activists of the Party of Regions, communists, and representatives of the local pro-Russian militia participated in the ceremonies along with clergy of the Luhansk and Alchevsk diocese of the UPTsMP.
On 4 November, the inauguration of the
leader of another self-proclaimed entity, the "Donetsk
People's Republic," Alexander Zakharchenko, was held; he also
took the oath on the Bible. (tr. by PDS, posted 10 November
2014)
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