Metropolitan Longin Calls for the Defense of Metropolitan Onufriy and Condemns Attempts to Revoke His Citizenship

On July 13, 2025, Metropolitan Longin (Zhar) of Bancheny delivered a Sunday sermon at the Bancheny Monastery in which he defended His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, condemning attempts to strip him of Ukrainian citizenship. The hierarch stated that such actions directly violate the Constitution of Ukraine. The sermon was published on the Bancheny Monastery’s official YouTube channel.

“No one has the right, according to Article 25 of the Constitution of Ukraine, to deprive him of his citizenship. He was born here, he lived here, and he will remain here until the end of his days,” Metropolitan Longin stated.

He called on all believers to pray fervently for their Primate and to be ready to act if further pressure arises:
“We will not remain silent. All of Ukraine will rise. We will defend our Pastor… If they plan anything against our Metropolitan, I call upon all of Ukraine to stand in defense of our Church, our faith, and our Metropolitan.”

The bishop especially emphasized Metropolitan Onufriy’s deep loyalty to his nation:
“No one loves his country the way he does. No one condemned the enemy invading our land the way he did.”

According to Metropolitan Longin, state interference in Church affairs threatens not only the Church’s freedom, but also the unity of the Ukrainian people:
“This will be painful not for us, but for you. We know we will stand for the truth and not allow our Metropolitan to be dishonored.”

He concluded his sermon with a direct appeal to the authorities:
“Come to your senses before it’s too late. Do not touch our Church, our faith, our God… We serve God, we serve our state and our people — and we will continue to do so.”

We would also like to remind you that Metropolitan Longin (Zhar) of Bancheny of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church spoke about the heavy losses of his family as a result of the war and publicly criticized Ukrainian politicians. He said that ten of his adopted sons had voluntarily gone to the front to defend their homeland, while the children of the ruling elite live abroad, lead a carefree life and make no sacrifices.