BEATING OF METROPOLITAN LONGIN OF UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Bancheny, Chernivtsi Province, Ukraine, February 7, 2024

Photo: YouTube    

Police in the Chernivtsi Province of Ukraine have launched an investigation into the violent attack against His Eminence Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

As OrthoChristian reported yesterday, His Eminence was attacked at home in late January and had to go undergo surgery on his eyes. The monastery published a photo of the Metropolitan with two very severe black eyes:

Photo: Bancheny Monastery Facebook    

A statement from Met. Longin explained that someone knocked at his door several times on the night of January 22, and when he opened the door, he was immediately struck and knocked unconscious.

And based on this statement, the police have opened investigative proceedings, the Chernivtsi Provincial police reported to Ukrainian National News.

“The police have not received any statements from Mykhailo Zhar [Met. Longin’s secular name—OC], or reports from him personally or from others about him. We have opened proceedings based on his public report,” the head of the provincial police’s communications department stated.

His Eminence commented on the attack in a video published by the monastery yesterday, assuring his flock that he is fine, and everything happens according to the allowance of God.

“According to our Orthodox faith, we must endure everything, suffer, and pray,” His Eminence said.

“I got what I deserved,” Met. Longin said humbly. “Glory to Thee, O Lord… May God forgive everyone and have mercy on everyone.”

For two years, they’ve been beating old women, stealing churches, and dividing the Ukrainian people, making the faithful of the UOC into second-class citizens, Vladyka Longin continued. But all threats against him mean nothing to the Metropolitan, because he was, is, and always will be with God, he said.

He also spoke about how the doctors at the hospital told him that most people would have died from such an attack, but the Lord saved him.