Metropolitan Longin on SBU visit: They came with guns to God, not to me
Metropolitan Longin and believers of the UOC. Photo: spzh.news
Metropolitan Longin has labeled the visit of armed security forces to the Bancheny Monastery as an attack and called on the international community to protect UOC believers from the authorities' harassment.
Metropolitan Longin stated that after the visit of an armed forces unit to the Bancheny Monastery, the entire world should take notice of the persecution experienced by UOC believers. He made this statement in an address published by the UOJ.
"The Bancheny Monastery was attacked. Hundreds of armed soldiers, SBU officers attacked us as if we were criminals, frightened all the children, surrounded everything we have. This state does not care about us, about our children. My children are at the front, ten sons are there, four are already disabled," he said.
"Let the whole world know how we suffer, how hard it is for us to live in this state. We have no rights; the Constitution does not protect us, the law does not protect us. What sin did this people commit? Why do we not have the right to live in this state? It is ours. I ask everyone to wake up," added Metropolitan Longin.
The hierarch also called on believers from all over Ukraine to stop those who would attempt to seize holy sites.
"We serve this state, but for some reason, we do not have the right to believe in God and pray in our Church... It was frightening when they came to the monastery with guns. They came to God with guns, not to me. Stop these people because our Church is ours, and God is ours. I need help now," he emphasized.
As reported by the UOJ, thousands of parishioners in Bancheny pushed back security forces from the monastery.
Read also
Head of Germany’s largest media group: We must all become Zionists
The media executive urged Europeans to defend the Jewish state in order to preserve their own freedom and security.
Church сonsecrated after restoration in Zaporizhzhia Eparchy of UOC
Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol performed the rite of great consecration and celebrated the first Liturgy in the renovated church.
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.