Metropolitan Longin gets into a car accident

Metropolitan Longin (Zhar). Photo: Bancheny Monastery

Metropolitan Longin (Zhar). Photo: Bancheny Monastery

On August 9, 2024, the car carrying Metropolitan Longin (Zhar) of Bancheny, along with five other people, was involved in a traffic accident.

According to UOJ, the bishop’s subdeacon was driving the vehicle. Due to rainy weather, he lost control of the car on a difficult section of the road, causing the vehicle to veer off the road.

Metropolitan Longin sustained the most severe injuries in the accident, while the other passengers were mostly unharmed. The bishop is currently in intensive care.

Sources from UOJ report that the day before, Metropolitan Longin had visited a hospital for medical procedures due to serious heart problems.

The accident occurred near a railway crossing in the village of Strumok, Sokyryany district, where locals say the roads are in poor condition, filled with potholes and bumps.

In addition to the difficult road conditions, the rain made it challenging for the driver to navigate a sharp turn.

This morning, some media outlets falsely reported that Metropolitan Longin was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. This is outright misinformation, as the bishop does not consume alcohol. He has been suffering from serious heart issues, has experienced multiple strokes, and has undergone several surgeries.

As reported by the UOJ, earlier, hundreds of Orthodox Bukovynians came to support Metropolitan Longin during a court appearance.

Medieval сhurch сrumbles as Culture Ministry сites missing agreement

The 14th–15th-century St. Nicholas Church in Chesnyky, Ivano-Frankivsk Region, is falling into disrepair.

Poland сondemns Lviv Regional Council's decision to declare 2007 year of UPA

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says the Lviv Regional Council's decision to dedicate 2027 to the UPA and Roman Shukhevych is harmful to Ukraine.

OCU seeks court recognition of ownership of seized Cherkasy cathedral

The Cherkasy Regional Commercial Court will hear an OCU lawsuit seeking ownership of St. Michael's Cathedral, which was seized from UOC believers.

Lithuanian bishop: Ukraine is no model for believers' rights

Vicar of Vilnius Diocese voices concern over attempts to import Ukraine's religious conflict into Lithuania.

Hundreds of believers honor St. Alexis of Carpatho-Russia in Khust Eparchy

At the St. Nicholas Monastery in the village of Iza-Karputlash, Metropolitan Mark of Khust led a festive liturgy, concelebrated by six metropolitans, five archbishops and three bishops.

Court upholds UOC parish appeal in Voloshky over OCU switch dispute

The Northern Commercial Court of Appeal has upheld the appeal of the St. Nicholas parish of the UOC in the village of Voloshky, Volyn region, in a dispute over a transfer to the OCU.