Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2023 10:16:55 GMT
The Ukrainian government for some reason is moving more towards persecuting the Romanian minority in Chernivtsi, who overwhelmingly belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Longin (Zhar), an ethnic Romanian bishop who is a very prominent figure in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, is being targeted by the Ukrainian government. Last week, his monastery was surrounded by Ukrainian police carrying machine guns. Allegedly it was to ensure that the monastery was not preparing to collaborate with Russia, an absurd accusation given it is around 1000 kilometres away from Russia and 15 kilometres from the border with Romania.
Well, two days ago Metropolitan Longin's lawyer Valentin Sukhar died after being poisoned. Metropolitan Longin had two lawyers. The first was arrested and prohibited from practising. The second has just died almost certainly an unnatural death and all indications are he did not poison himself.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Longin, just after the poisoning of his second lawyer, was summoned to the Court in Hertsa, a small town near the border with Romania. After the end of the hearing, at which he was permitted to return, at least for now, to the Ascension Banchen Monastery where hundreds of Ukrainian orphans are looked after, he addressed the crowd that had gathered. He spoke first in Romanian, then in Ukrainian, saying:
“I am very grateful to you for your love, for your faith, for the fact that you are true Christians of our Orthodox Church. We want peace and tranquility, we want God’s blessing for everyone. We pray for our country. We have always served it and will continue to serve it, because this is our country. But there are people who want to disgrace us, Lord, forgive them everything. They can kill me, they can arrest me, but they cannot arrest the whole country. Remain always faithful to God, our canonical Orthodox Church and our beloved His Beatitude Onuphry, dear in your heart and soul. I bless you all for prayer and thank you for your support.”
Metropolitan Longin addressing supporters after the hearing:
Well, two days ago Metropolitan Longin's lawyer Valentin Sukhar died after being poisoned. Metropolitan Longin had two lawyers. The first was arrested and prohibited from practising. The second has just died almost certainly an unnatural death and all indications are he did not poison himself.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Longin, just after the poisoning of his second lawyer, was summoned to the Court in Hertsa, a small town near the border with Romania. After the end of the hearing, at which he was permitted to return, at least for now, to the Ascension Banchen Monastery where hundreds of Ukrainian orphans are looked after, he addressed the crowd that had gathered. He spoke first in Romanian, then in Ukrainian, saying:
“I am very grateful to you for your love, for your faith, for the fact that you are true Christians of our Orthodox Church. We want peace and tranquility, we want God’s blessing for everyone. We pray for our country. We have always served it and will continue to serve it, because this is our country. But there are people who want to disgrace us, Lord, forgive them everything. They can kill me, they can arrest me, but they cannot arrest the whole country. Remain always faithful to God, our canonical Orthodox Church and our beloved His Beatitude Onuphry, dear in your heart and soul. I bless you all for prayer and thank you for your support.”
Metropolitan Longin addressing supporters after the hearing:
