Archbishop Longin: We should bear kids’ infirmities with love and patience

Archbishop Longin surrounded by his wards. Photo: Facebook

He who lives with God and constantly drinks from this source of grace will always have enough love to give it to others. About this, answering questions from the press service of Chernivtsi-Bukovina Diocese of the UOC, said Archbishop Longin (Zhar) of Bancheny – a multi-child adoptive father who received the title of “Hero of Ukraine” and was awarded the national prize “Pride of the country”.

When asked about how and when Vladyka lets his children, who grow up, go to enter into adulthood, the clergyman answered, "I never let them go."

“Once I took them to my fold, they remain in my heart and soul all my life,” he explained. “When they choose their path in the life they desire – to get married, to study – we arrange them a wedding, we build apartments in Chernivtsi, houses. I can’t leave these children, the Lord gave them to me, so I must do everything for them until the end of my days on this earth so that they never feel like orphans on this earth. Since I am their father, I must do everything for them as a father.”

The diocesan press service also asked how His Eminence can have enough time and love for all the children he cares for, if it is often difficult for a modern family to raise even one child.

“I think that I am very poor in love, I have little of it, but the Lord God has so much love that He embraces everybody and everything with this Love, all our sins, sends us this love we have to share with others, and if we don’t accept heavenly love from God, then we also will not have this love and we will not be able to give it to others. Only the one, who lives with God, constantly drinks from this source of love, the grace of God, always has enough love, because God has everything enough,” said the hierarch who takes care of 415 children.

When asked why many parents have trouble with their children nowadays and what Vladyka being a father with many children could recommend them, the clergyman emphasized: “Now a lot of mass media, the Internet began to raise our children in a different way. Nevertheless, I believe that love should conquer everything. This is what the Holy Scripture says: "Love conquers all." I think we must bear the infirmities of our children with love, patience, and thus we will overcome all the evil which our children are affected with today and which they absorb like a sponge. I know it’s hard, but nothing is impossible. Moreover, everything is possible with God.”

Recall that Buncheny Monastery’s orphanage, established by Archbishop Longin in Molnitsa village, Chernivtsi region, is home to 415 children, many of whom are children with special needs. In more detail, the archbishop spoke about the children he cares for in the documentary “Our Beatitude”, which was released on the occasion of the 75th birthday of the Primate of the UOC.

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