UOC hierarch: War with God will not end well

Metropolitan Longin (Zhar). Photo: a screenshot of the Youtube channel of the Bancheny Monastery

Vicar of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy, abbot of the Ascension Monastery in Bancheni, Metropolitan Longin (Zhar) in his sermon said that the war with God and with the Church will not end well.

The sermon was published on the Bancheny Monastery’s YouTube channel.

"In the UOC great problems began, in the XXI century, our government began to persecute our believers, the monks, and bishops. If there is anything human left in these people if they are not afraid to continue the war with God, remember, it will not end well. Kill, shoot – we believe in God, we are not fanatics, we have love for our Saviour," said Metropolitan Longin.

He stressed that to ban the UOC means to ban God, and this is absurd.

"Can you ban God? Brothers and sisters, don't mess with God, your vote will end very badly. You cannot go against God and against the Lord's Church. Wake up, wake up. Look what your Lenin, Khrushchev did, they are yours and ours are the holy fathers who followed in the footsteps of the Saviour and we are following in these footsteps," he added.

The UOC hierarch advised the MPs who vote for banning the UOC not to sin and not to kill people in the rear with their laws.

"You have families, enough checks on churches, monasteries, enough mockery, our Metropolitan (Metropolitan Meletiy – Ed.) is summoned for questioning tomorrow in Chernivtsi. It is very painful for our Church and state. Our blood is being spilt, our children are fighting on the front line, people are starving, there is no heat, water and light, and you are killing us and God in the rear. What Khrushchev couldn’t do; you are doing. He wanted to show the last priest, but he failed, because God is eternal, God is Love and Truth," resumed the abbot of the Bancheny Monastery.

Metropolitan Longin also called on the Local Churches to stand up for the UOC.

Read also