Metropolitan Longin calls mobilization of priests disgrace and lawlessness
Metropolitan Longin (Zhar). Photo: a video screenshot of the Bancheny Monastery
Metropolitan Longin (Zhar) during his sermon on August 9, 2025, in the Bukovinian village of Lomachyntsi stated that the authorities who mobilize clergymen have no right to do so.
"I am not against my state, I myself wanted to go to war if I had such a will. I would tell the brethren of the monastery: 'I want to be there where my people are, where my children are'," said the Bancheny Metropolitan.
However, he emphasized, a priest has no right to take up arms, shoot, or kill.
"Today they are taking our priests to war. They have no right to do this because we have no right to then raise our hands to God, they will be in blood," noted Bishop Longin.
The UOC hierarch added that clergymen should not be taken away from their flock, and then "detained" and "abused".
"This is a disgrace – a great disgrace – not to the state of Ukraine, but to those people who commit such lawlessness," he concluded.
As reported by the UOJ, in Kharkiv, the TRC deceitfully detained two priests.
Read also
Bill banning LGBT and childfree propaganda adopted in Belarus
A bill in the Belarusian parliament provides for administrative liability for propaganda of homosexuality and childlessness.
In women's monastery of Holovchyntsi village, monastic tonsure performed
In the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy, two nuns were tonsured into the lesser schema.
Finnish MP urges EU to repeal law banning criticism of LGBT
Päivi Räsänen stated that the "hate speech" law in Europe serves as a means for censorship.
Displaced children from Dnipro baptized at orphanage in Mukachevo
A priest of the Mukachevo Eparchy of the UOC performed the baptism of children from the "Barvinok" orphanage.
During Holy Week, Catholics celebrate Mass at Holy Sepulchre without believers
The RCC bishop, who was previously barred by police from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, was nevertheless allowed to conduct a service there on Thursday.
UGCC calls murder of TRC employee "particularly grave sin"
UGCC cleric Yustin Boyko emphasized that hatred against TRC employees is being artificially incited on social media.