UOC's military сhaplain of Sumy Eparchy killed on the frontline

Archpriest Oleksiy Kuznetsov. Photo: Sumy Eparchy

On April 24, 2025, in the Sumy direction, while serving as a military chaplain and psychologist with the 252nd Separate Territorial Defense Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Archpriest Oleksiy Kuznetsov, a cleric of the Sumy Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, was killed. The news was reported by the press service of the eparchy.

Metropolitan Evlogiy of Sumy and Akhtyrka, along with the clergy and faithful, expressed heartfelt condolences to Matushka Iryna, the family of the departed pastor, his comrades-in-arms, parishioners, relatives, and all who knew and loved Father Oleksiy.

"'Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends' (John 15:13). Eternal memory to the shepherd of Christ, a brave defender, a loving father, and a faithful son of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Archpriest Oleksiy Kuznetsov! We pray for the repose of his immortal soul in the eternal dwellings of the righteous. Christ is Risen!" the message reads.

Archpriest Oleksiy Kuznetsov was born on April 25, 1997, in the city of Lebedyn, Sumy region. From childhood, he served as an altar server at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Sumy. In 2014, he entered the Sumy Theological Seminary named after His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan), graduating in 2018. In parallel, he earned a degree in Practical Psychology from the A. S. Makarenko Sumy State Pedagogical University.

He was ordained a deacon on December 4, 2020, at the Transfiguration Cathedral in Sumy, and a priest on January 19, 2021. Since then, he had served as a pastor at the Exaltation of the Cross Church in Sumy. In 2024, he was elevated to the rank of archpriest.

In addition to his liturgical duties, Father Oleksiy also served in the press office of the Sumy Eparchy as a photographer and videographer.

He was known for his deep pastoral empathy, calm temperament, emotional maturity, and thoughtful nature. He had the gift of offering words of prayer and hope during the most difficult times – qualities that proved especially vital during his time at the front as a chaplain and psychologist.

Father Oleksiy was married and the father of two children. He was killed in action on April 24, 2025.

May the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal rest be granted to the newly departed Archpriest Oleksiy!

As the UOJ previously reported, a girl who survived the missile strike in Sumy asked to be given a cross to wear.

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