Church of Kyivan Patriarchate in Luhansk Set on Fire

LUHANSK – On July 18, 2010, a wooden Church of Archistratege Michael of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk was set on fire by unknown persons and burned down. The construction of that first wooden church of Kyivan Patriarchate in Luhansk was almost completed: only the dome was to be installed.  According to the press service of the UOC-KP, the guard testifies that at night two people broke in, beat him, and set the building on fire using gasoline. According to Bishop Tykhon of Luhansk, the loss exceeds 300 thousand UAH. The guard is in extensive care. The investigation continues.

The press service stresses that in the recent time, churches of the Kyivan Patriarchate were burned in Shostka of the eastern Ukrainian Sumy region and Mariupol of the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk Region. In the first case it was proved that the arson was ordered by a minister of the Moscow Patriarchate. In the second case, the initiators were not found.