RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Ukrainian websites show video of Orthodox priest blessing rebels

LUHANSK METROPOLITAN DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM CONSECRATION OF BATTLE BANNER OF "SO-CALLED LPR"
Religiia v Ukraine, 28 November 2014

In connection with the publication of video footage of another consecration and ceremonial presentation on 22 November of a battle banner for pro-Russian rebels "of the armed forces of the Luhansk People's republic," during which a local priest declared that he was acting in accordance with the blessing of two bishops of UPTsMP—Bishop of Rovenki Panteleimon and Metropolitan of Luhansk Mitrofan—the latter published a commentary tonight in which he distanced himself from this action and he did not even recognize in the consecration the face of the minister whom two years ago he tonsured a monk, a correspondent of the portal Religii v Ukraine reports.

"That I supposedly blessed the consecration of the banner of armed formations of the LPR, I learned from the Internet with surprise," the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations (OVTsS) of UPTs, Metropolitan of Luhansk and Alchevsk Mitrofan, commented on the news of the distribution of video footage in which, as the OVTsS website writes, "a person, looking like a priest, is performing a ritual of consecration of banners of an armed formation of the so-called LPR in the city of Krasnodon of Luhansk province, referring to the blessing of Metropolitan of Luhansk and Alchevsk Mitrofan and Bishop of Rovenki and Sverdlovsk Panteleimon."

In his commentary, the chairman of OVTsS UPTs declared:

"After looking at video material in which a person in clerical garb performs the consecration and cites my blessing, I want to say the following:

 1. I am not personally acquainted with the person performing the consecration. This person is not a cleric of the Luhansk diocese.

2. Neither this person nor anybody else has appealed to me for a blessing to perform such actions.

3. Moreover, it should be noted that the city of Krasnodon is not a member of the Luhansk diocese but of the Rovenki diocese. According to church canons, I do not at all have the right to give any blessings to clerics of other dioceses.

4. On the very day when this happened, namely the day of the memory of the Mother of God and her "Quick to Harken" icon, I was in Kiev where I performed the liturgy in the Kiev caves lavra.

5. I regret that persons unknown to me hid behind my name and blessing, deceiving believers.

6. I doubt that Bishop of Rovenki Panteleimon could have given such a blessing, as at the present time, as far as I know, he is in the Holy Land on a pilgrimage."

It should be noted that the person performing the consecration of the battle banner of armed rebels of the "Luhansk People's republic," whom Metropolitan Mitrofan did not recognize as a priest, actually was a cleric of Luhansk diocese of UPTs before its division into two dioceses, specifically the Luhansk and Rovenki dioceses. In December 2012, Metropolitan Mitrofan performed a monastic tonsure of four clergymen, among whom was the aforementioned priest, which is attested by its photograph from the scene of the event on the official website of the Luhansk diocese. In the group photo, the newly tonsured person is standing two persons to the left of Metropolitan Mitrofan. Now this hieromonk is listed as the incumbent rector of one of the churches of the Krasnodon deanery of the Rovenki diocese of UPTs.

The Rovenki diocese has still not issued a denial of the blessing for the consecration of the battle banner "of armed forces of the Luhansk People's republic." (tr. by PDS, posted 1 December 2014)

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