Hundreds of UOC believers come to police dept to support Metropolitan Longin

Believers of the UOC stand near the police department in Chernivtsi. Photo: Screenshot of a video posted by valera.shorodok on Instagram

On May 22, 2023, hundreds of parishioners of the UOC gathered for prayer standing near the Chernivtsi Police Department, where Metropolitan Longin, rector of the Ascension Bancheny Monastery, came for interrogation. The footage of the standing was published in its Telegram channel by the press service of the Chernivtsi diocese.

The footage shows believers and monks of the Church reading prayers in front of armed police officers while the bishop of the UOC was under interrogation.

Eyewitnesses also reported on social networks that unidentified men in the uniform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine handed summons to the participants in the standing.

“The police are not letting people in. If you are an Orthodox bishop, then, of course, you are a criminal. Being a bishop who adopted 400 orphans is the worst crime ever,” the diocese noted sarcastically.

Later, Metropolitan Longin left the police department and addressed the believers, declaring that he would be free for the time being. The hierarch of the UOC also announced a divine service in the Bancheny Monastery on Ascension, the patronal feast of the monastery, on May 25, 2023.

"Everything will be fine. The Lord will help us and our state. For now, I will serve, while at large. God is with us. I want to ask you to quietly go home. I beg you not to offend anyone, not to say anything offensive to anyone. <...> We must pray very quietly and ask the Lord, but not offend anyone. I am very grateful to you,” said the bishop, addressing the faithful.

It should be noted that the day before, Metropolitan Longin spoke at a sermon about the threats made by the security forces when they were handing the summons. According to the bishop, law enforcers “promised that they would lock him so as not to let him serve on the holiday.”

As the UOJ reported, Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny was summoned for questioning.

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