“His prayers are saving our Ukraine”: Metropolitan Longin speaks out in support of Metropolitan Onufriy

Metropolitan Longin of Banchy made a public statement in support of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, emphasizing his unwavering spiritual authority in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to the bishop, in the current difficult situation for both the Church and the country, it is precisely the humility, prayer, and love of the Primate that preserve spiritual balance and true pastoral unity. His remarks were published on the Pershyi Kozatskyi channel.

“Our Primate will remain forever — as long as he walks this earth, he remains our Primate. It is in vain that someone wants to take this place, in vain. You may take this place, you may become the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but you cannot bear the cross. You have not yet learned to bear the cross, to suffer, to endure, to pray, to fast, as our Blessed Onufriy has. Have you ever heard a bad word from him, or seen him attack anyone? Never. Besides love, and prayer and fasting, he knows nothing else. He does not know what evil is, because love lives in his heart,” said the hierarch.

Metropolitan Longin is convinced that it is precisely this love and the prayers of His Beatitude Onufriy that sustain Ukraine during these trying times.

“This love is boundless. This love is saving our Ukraine today. His prayers are saving our Ukraine,” the bishop said.

It should also be recalled that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church intends to challenge the revocation of Metropolitan Onufriy’s citizenship both legally within Ukraine and at the international level. This was announced by the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), during a recent sermon.