The Cheka-OGPU became aware of a huge scandal during the Easter service in…

The Cheka-OGPU became aware of a huge scandal during the Easter service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. For the first time in history, a service with the participation of Vladimir Putin was held without the Holy Fire. The reason is that the fire was delivered by the former head of Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin and Konstantin Goloshchapov, who were once close to the president, but they were not allowed in.

Every year, Vladimir Yakunin, as the head of the Foundation of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called (both as the head of Russian Railways and after leaving his post) flew to get the Holy Fire to Jerusalem and delivered it to Moscow. This time he was joined as a representative of the Athos Society by Konstantin Goloshchapov.

Advertisement

According to the source, Goloshchapov and Yakunin flew on the same plane. In previous years, and even during a pandemic, Yakunin delivered fire before the start of the service and it was distributed along the Procession.

A distinctive feature of this year’s Easter service was that Yakunin and Goloshchapov were simply not allowed into the service while Vladimir Putin was there. They weren’t allowed in with the Holy Fire. All attempts to somehow resolve the situation ended with an explanation that they no longer had access to the first person.

They were allowed to pass only when Putin left the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. And the distribution of the Holy Fire took place after the service.