Met. Longin: Sviatohirsk killing is a pain for all Orthodox Christians

Metropolitan Longin (Zhar). Photo: doxologiainfonews

Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny called the brutal attack at the Sviatohirsk Lavra a tragedy for every Orthodox believer and urged the faithful to pray fervently for the persecuted Church.

According to the hierarch, believers received the tragic news of the monk’s death with great pain and sorrow. At the same time, officials and society have remained completely silent, as though nothing terrible had happened.

“This is a pain for the entire Orthodox faith, not only for Ukraine, but for all Orthodox people, because our brothers were killed,” Metropolitan Longin said. “We took it very hard, very painfully. And we are waiting for God’s truth to prevail.”

The bishop also pointed to the silence of the state authorities. “You can see it yourselves – everyone is silent, no one says anything, as if nothing happened. Priests have been beaten, believers are being abused. They have been thrown into prisons.”

He recalled the courage of the slain Sviatohirsk monk, who affirmed his faithfulness to Christ before his death. “But we accept everything. This monk who died also said that he was a monk and that he glorified the Lord God,” the bishop stressed. “He was with God here, and now he is with Him there as well, in eternity.”

The hierarch said that today UOC believers are protected neither by the law nor by the Constitution, and that amid these severe trials they place their hope in the Lord alone. He therefore called on the Local Orthodox Churches to support the UOC with prayer during this time of persecution.

As previously reported by the UOJ, a political consultant explained why the authorities are silent about the Sviatohirsk killing.

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