Romania, February 21, 2024
Photo: YouTube His Eminence Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny has faced repeated health problems since the Ukrainian state began its campaign of persecution against him.
On Monday, February 19, he underwent his second heart surgery in the span of two months, this time in a clinic in Romania. “With God’s help, the surgery went well. Metropolitan Longin has been saved!” reports the Holy Ascension-Bancheny Monastery, which the hierarch founded.
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 in December with atrial fibrillation, after which he underwent heart surgery. Later that month, the Metropolitan’s car was unjustifiably detained and searched. Following the incident, his condition worsened and he experienced a heart arrhythmia.
Late last month, Met. Longin was attacked at home and had to undergo surgery on his eyes.
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. In early January, his house in Bukovina went up in flames.
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