Bancheny, Chernivtsi Province, Ukraine, December 13, 2023
Photo: mitropolia.md
A hierarch of the Moldovan Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) visited a Ukrainian Orthodox monastery in the Chernivtsi Province on Tuesday and concelebrated with a local Ukrainian hierarch.
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Moldova and His Eminence Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovina, His Grace Bishop Philaret of Căpriana from Moldova concelebrated the All-Night Vigil on Tuesday with His Grace Bishop Cleopa of Hertsa of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the Holy Ascension-Bancheny Monastery, the Moldovan Church reports.
The monastery was built by and is home to His Eminence Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny, who is currently hospitalized with atrial fibrillation. The Ukrainian hierarch, who is also greatly beloved in Romania and Moldova, earlier suffered a stroke in July. The inhabitants of the monastery have no doubt that the pressure of state persecution is ruining his health.
Though officially recognized as a Hero of Ukraine for his work with orphans, the state now considers him an enemy because he staunchly remains within the Orthodox Church. He is accused of “inciting religious enmity”—the same phony charge being brought against a number of Orthodox hierarchs.
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The monastery asked for prayers yesterday, saying Met. Longin’s health is deteriorating.
Hundreds of Orthodox faithful in both Bucharest and Chișinău have rallied outside their respective Ukrainian embassies in support of Met. Longin.
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