“As a bishop of Cherkasy region I state: you are excommunicated from the Church” - Metropolitan Theodosius about the mayor of Cherkasy

Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv reported that the mayor of Cherkasy, Anatoliy Bondarenko, was excommunicated in connection with his participation in the seizure of the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC. The hierarch added that Bondarenko always has the opportunity to repent if he wants to. Metropolitan Theodosius said this in a video commentary published on the official Telegram channel of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC.

«Now I am addressing you personally, Anatoly Vasilyevich: there is no excuse for what you have done. Unlike other officials of the Cherkasy region, who have very little to do with the church, your crime has a religious aspect, because you declared yourself a church person. You have repeatedly attended our solemn services… you have received church awards. At one time, Anatoly Vasilyevich, I took you to the rector of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who blessed you to be elected mayor. And you were elected. You became mayor thanks to the prayers of both our rector and our parishioners. You then promised to protect the rights of believers and non-believers in Cherkasy. You broke your promise. You broke it rudely and bloody. I am forced to state that by these actions you have excommunicated yourself from the Holy Orthodox Church. That is, I, as the bishop of the Cherkasy region, state: you are excommunicated from the church,» said Metropolitan Theodosius.

The bishop expressed hope that the mayor will live a long life and will have the opportunity to correct his tragic mistakes. “As for the life of Cherkasy, everyone has seen the true face of the current authorities of Cherkasy,” the hierarch concluded.

Earlier, Cherkasy Mayor Anatoly Bondarenko said that the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, seized by radicals, would be transferred to municipal ownership. Thus, the OCU will use the church on a lease basis.