Metropolitan Longin, Supreme Cleric of Ukraine, responded to those who condemned him for his sermon in which he "thanked" Patriarch Kirill of Russia for the "blessed war".
The day before, on the day on which Blessed Ksenia of Petersburg was glorified as a saint, the Metropolitan once again came out to the congregation with a sermon in which he asked the saint to ask for forgiveness of sins and help for all Orthodox people.
He also noted that his sermon resonated. He received calls and emails of both gratitude and displeasure.
"I said a sermon yesterday that wasn't straightforward for everyone to hear. And I wondered all night why it wasn't to everyone's liking.
I realized that people can hear and read our words, but people don't feel our pain, our soul, our heart.
...I realized this night - people read, hear, go to church, read God's word, but people don't accept the Lord," the Metropolitan emphasized.
"Who yesterday heard my words, but did not feel my pain, I do not wish them bad, but I say - come and see how mothers bury their children, soldiers ... what can I say to our orphans ... if we are a brotherly people, and we are also people, the Lord gave us this power, and we must defend it .
... And if you do not hear the pain and sorrow of our children and mothers, then you have nothing human left," said Metropolitan Longin, the Supreme Cleric of Ukraine, in his address to the congregation.
The clergyman also stressed that despite all the difficulties and problems, "I remain with our people, we will suffer together and pray together, the Lord will hear and have mercy on us.
As a reminder, Metropolitan Longin of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which separated from the Moscow Patriarchate, "thanked" Patriarch Kirill of Russia for the "blessed war."
"Thank you" for your blessing. For the fact that people are dying and blood is being shed. For bombing our churches and monasteries. For killing our monks and priests. Thank you, Your Holiness, for your "great and important" blessing for the bloodshed," said the abbot of the Banchen monastery.
