In Cherkasy region, OCU "priest" banned from priesthood over witchcraft

Cherkasy "Metropolitan" of the OCU Ioann Yaremenko banned from the priesthood the rector of the Intercession Church in the village of Horodetske, Cherkasy region, "priest" Dmytro Plaksyvyi after he was caught practising witchcraft, consuming alcohol, and refusing to carol for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reports "Suspilne".

In the document, the OCU "hierarch" stated that the "priest" was banned from ministry due to "inconsistency with the dignity of a clergyman, numerous violations and corresponding complaints about his actions".

According to the head of the eparchy, Dmytro Plaksyvyi repeatedly fell under the ban because of complaints from priests of the Uman Deanery of the OCU and the faithful of the village.

"A year has passed, and we have again received several complaints about him from citizens. And accordingly, all that is written in the decree, but seasoned with many cases and testimonies of residents of the village of Horodetske who suffered from him. Therefore, now he is finally banned from priestly ministry and taken out of the Cherkasy Eparchy and the OCU in general," said the "metropolitan".

According to a local resident, the "priest" is accused of practising witchcraft with the use of grave earth, manipulating people, as well as sowing discord between the village headman, the chairman of the farm and the chairman of the Palanka united territorial community (OTH).

At the same time, the villagers have already come out in support of the banned "priest" and even drafted a petition asking to reinstate the "priest" in the ministry.

"We will still petition to prosecute the persons involved in the slander and the people who forged signatures in the application for the suspension of the clergyman," said Yuri, a village resident.