On October 17, 2020, after a long illness, Metropolitan Ioanniky (Kobzev) of the UOC-MP, who led the Diocese of Luhansk for many years, passed away to the Lord at the age of 82.
This is reported by Orthodox Life.
The funeral service for the newly deceased hierarch of the UOC-MP will take place on Monday, October 19, after the Divine Liturgy at Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral.
Metropolitan Ioaniky was born on February 7, 1938, in the village of Novosivtsy, Belenikhinsky district, Belgorod region (Russia).
Since 1991 he was Bishop of Luhansk and Starobilsk. In 1993, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop, and in 2001 – to the rank of Metropolitan. Since May 31, 2007, he has had the current title. On July 20, 2012, by the decision of the Synod of the UOC-MP, he was released from the administration of the Diocese of Luhansk and was retired.
On November 4, 2014, during the inauguration, which took place in the column hall of the Luhansk Regional Council, Metropolitan Ioanniky blessed the "head" of the "Luhansk People's Republic" Plotnytsky.