Metropolitan Longin: Do not force us into another church
Metropolitan Longin (Zhar). Photo: telegraf
On September 24, another hearing in the case of Metropolitan Longin (Zhar) took place at the Herța District Court in the city of Herța, Chernivtsi region. In a video address after the court session, published on the YouTube channel of the Bancheny Monastery, the bishop stated that he remains faithful to the UOC and urged to stop attempts to "force us to serve another church."
"Do not make us serve another church or herd us like sheep into different churches, taking with angle grinders (our churches – Ed.). The most important thing is that people understand that every soul has its own faith... I have no objection to everyone going where their soul feels drawn. But I will never change my Orthodox faith; I belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," he said.
Metropolitan Longin added that he is happy to have been born in Ukraine and hopes that the Lord will grant peace and His blessing to the country. He also hopes that those who fight against the Church will stop, and that the Lord will forgive them because "they do not know that fighting against God is a very grave sin."
As the hierarch noted, "no one can take away from us our state, our God, or our Church – the Orthodox, canonical Church, recognized by the entire world."
"Always remain with God in your heart, with our Primate, and with the faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church," he said, addressing the faithful.
As the UOJ previously reported, another hearing in the case of Metropolitan Longin took place in the Herța Court.
Read also
Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer
In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.
Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova
Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".
Bancheny Monastery reports provocation
The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.
Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.
Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution
At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.
Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession
The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.