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
Dumenko "blesses" SBU facility for forensic examination
The head of the OCU noted the "special role" of the Institute of Special Technology and Forensic Expertise of the SBU.
ROC head: Attempts to impose special powers of Pat. Bartholomew are sinful
Patriarch Kirill stated that the doctrine of special powers of the Patriarch of Constantinople is being imposed from outside.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces LGBT festival near Sodom and Gomorrah
Israeli authorities are promoting a large-scale gay event at the Dead Sea on social media, which has caused criticism and bewilderment among Christians.
In Bila Tserkva, man nearly killed for greeting "Christ is risen!"
Two non-Orthodox individuals aged 19 and 23 tracked down a 35-year-old Orthodox Christian after an Easter greeting, knocked him down and inflicted several knife wounds to his abdomen and neck.
In Uganda, Islamists kill Protestant pastor after sermon
In Uganda, a Protestant church pastor who preached among Muslims was stabbed to death after a sermon.
Spanish court rules Jehovah’s Witnesses may be called a “destructive sect”
A court in Spain has upheld the right of critics of Jehovah’s Witnesses to speak openly about the group’s alleged harmfulness and danger to society.