Adopted son of Metropolitan Longin (Zhar) killed at the front

Fallen Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier Dmytro Diakonovych. Photo: Bancheny Monastery

On December 24, 2024, Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier Dmytro Diakonovych, the adopted son of Metropolitan Longin (Zhar), was killed at the front. This was reported on the official Telegram channel of the Ascension Bancheny Monastery.

The monastery extended its heartfelt condolences to Metropolitan Longin over the death of his adopted son.

“Eternal memory and respect to the Hero! With the saints, O Christ, grant rest to the soul of Your departed servant Dmytro,” the monastery wrote.

The channel also shared an archival video in which Dmytro expressed his support for the UOC Metropolitan and called on law enforcement to stop persecuting his adopted father.

As previously reported by the UOJ, 500 children adopted by Metropolitan Longin appealed to Olena Zelenska for support.

Read also

Middle East Council of Churches calls for protection of Christians in the region

Christian churches in the Middle East warned of growing threats to the region’s Christian communities and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, urging the international community to step up support.

Albanian Archbishop: First in Orthodoxy does not mean supreme

The head of the Albanian Church spoke to UOJ about Orthodox unity, the limits of national identity, and the role of humility in Orthodoxy’s witness to the world.

Poland begins phasing out social benefits for Ukrainian refugees

A new law has taken effect in Poland providing for a gradual reduction in social benefits and some other support measures introduced for Ukrainian refugees after 2022.

Metropolitan Arseniy unable to attend court hearing due to hospitalization

The abbot of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra was absent from a hearing at the Checheliv District Court in Dnipro as he is undergoing inpatient medical examinations at a clinic in Kyiv.

Lawsuit сlaims Google’s Gemini AI drove man to suicide

In the United States, the father of a 36-year-old man has filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming the Gemini AI chatbot pushed his son toward suicide.

Court orders release of Armenian Church chancellery head

An appeals court in Yerevan has overturned the archbishop’s detention in a case widely described as politically motivated.