Ukrainian Armed Forces honor UOC cleric whose church was seized by OCU

The "For Achievements in Military Service" Second-Class Order was awarded to a UOC priest. Photo: Facebook, Fr. Yuriy Zarafutdinov

Protopriest Yuriy Zarafutdinov, a cleric of the Volyn Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), was awarded the Honorary Distinction of the Commander of the Western Operational Command "For Achievements in Military Service", Second Class. This was reported by the press service of the Volyn Diocese, citing the priest’s Facebook page.

"Thank you all for your support and prayers. Another operation today... I ask for your holy prayers," he wrote in a post.

The diocese noted that in the combat zone, Father Yuriy sustained a mine blast injury and is undergoing lengthy treatment as a result.

As rector of the St. Elias Parish in the village of Borochychi, Protopriest Yuriy Zarafutdinov serves with the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Previously, the priest shared on his Facebook page that since 2014, the St. Elias community has been supporting Ukraine's defenders. Since the full-scale war began, Father Yuriy has been actively engaged in volunteer efforts supporting the AFU, and upon being drafted, he became a soldier himself.

While the priest was on the front lines, his parish faced challenges. In May 2023, OCU raiders seized the church from the UOC religious community. On social media, the priest stated that during his absence, OCU representatives forged documents and "transferred" the religious community to their jurisdiction, allegedly because "the priest remained with the Moscow Patriarchate... did not transfer..."

"Hello!!! The church rector is currently on the front lines. He wasn’t invited to the meeting because it never took place," Father Yuriy emphasized in his post.

"I, a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, call on the legislative and executive authorities to protect my rights and freedoms, as well as those of my family and the faithful of the St. Elias UOC church in Borovychi. Do not tarnish the honor of my free country. Do not encourage religious strife: we are all for Ukraine. Do not divide Ukrainian citizens based on faith – saying these Ukrainians are better, and those are worse," the protopriest appealed.

As the UOJ previously reported, the OCU claimed the "transition" of the St. Elias Parish in Borochychi to their jurisdiction (see the photo below).

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