Security forces to interrogate children at Bancheny Monastery

Metropolitan Longin with children. Photo: UOC Press Service

On June 10, 2025, interrogations are scheduled to take place at the Ascension Banchensky Monastery. According to a statement from the monastery, the interrogations involve orphaned children who have been taken in and cared for by Metropolitan Longin.

These investigative actions are part of a criminal case initiated by the Chernivtsi police following the publication of a video by a little-known blogger, Edgar Kalancha. The video contained allegations of supposed mistreatment of children within the monastery. However, the author himself later admitted that his work was “artistic and fictional” in nature.

Despite this admission, law enforcement authorities opened a criminal case and began investigating the claims made in the video. Today, security officials decided to interrogate the orphans, even though the children had earlier released a video statement in which they firmly rejected the accusations. They also emphasized their willingness to provide evidence and rebuttals for every claim mentioned.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Longin had thanked his flock for their faithfulness to the Church despite the storms they face.

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