Bukovina, Ukraine, January 3, 2024
Photo: spzh.news
His Eminence Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny, a beloved hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has suffered a severe deterioration of his health under the pressure of the state’s persecution against him.
And now the hierarch, who is also the abbot of the Holy Ascension Monastery in Bancheny and adoptive father of hundreds of orphans, has suffered another loss.
Early yesterday morning, January 2, His Eminence’s house in Bukovina went up in flames, reports the First Cossack.
Thankfully, the Metropolitan was not harmed, but the roof of the house was destroyed and the structure is no longer suitable for living in.
Locals are certain it was a case of arson.
Though officially recognized as a Hero of Ukraine for having adopted hundreds of 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.
His Eminence has suffered several severe health incidents since the state launched its campaign against him. He suffered a stroke back in July, and he was admitted to the hospital last month with atrial fibrillation, after which he underwent heart surgery. In late December, the Metropolitan’s car was unjustifiably detained and searched. Following the incident, his condition worsened and he experienced a heart arrhythmia.
Armed security forces surrounded and searched his monastery in November, scaring the orphans who live there. Furthermore, His Eminence’s previous lawyer, Valentin Sukhari, died from poisoning in November.
Hundreds of Orthodox faithful in both Bucharest and Chișinău have rallied outside their respective Ukrainian embassies in support of Met. Longin, who is ethnically Romanian.
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