Metropolitan Theodosiy excommunicates mayor of Cherkasy

Anatoliy Bondarenko (right) in the seized UOC cathedral in Cherkasy. Photo: dzvin.media

Anatoliy Bondarenko (right) in the seized UOC cathedral in Cherkasy. Photo: dzvin.media

Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv, in recounting the tragic events of the "bandit" takeover, as he called it, of the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Cherkasy, addressed the city's mayor, Anatoliy Bondarenko. The video was published by the press service of the Cherkasy Eparchy.

Noting that Bondarenko had previously presented himself as a religious person, the metropolitan said: "I must state that by your actions today, you have excommunicated yourself from the Church. As the bishop of Cherkasy, I confirm – you are excommunicated from the Church. This is a great tragedy. ... I hope that you live a long life and have the opportunity to correct the tragic mistakes you have made."

As the UOJ previously reported, the mayor of Cherkasy was elected chairman of the parish council of the seized UOC cathedral.

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