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.
Read also
In Kniazhychi, brotherhood defends their monastery from seizure
Parishioners and the brotherhood of the UOC Transfiguration Monastery in Kniazhychi succeeded in defending their sacred site from the attempts of security forces and raiders.
UOC Primate congratulates Met. Arseniy on 20 years of episcopal ordination
The Primate of the UOC sent greetings to Metropolitan Arseniy on the anniversary of his personal Pentecost.
UGCC urges faithful to be ready to lay down their lives for Ukraine
The UGCC hierarchs have published a letter to the faithful urging them to cleanse the country of Soviet methods of governance, military organization, and economic management.
Condition of Metropolitan Theodosiy shows first signs of recovery
For the first time since his hospitalization, the health indicators of Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy have begun to improve.
Court to choose preventive measure for Met. Arseniy in Dnipro on December 5
The prosecutor demands that the detention of the UOC hierarch be extended.
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy delivers 20 tons of food to Kyiv Theological Schools
Believers of the UOC eparchy collected vegetables, grains, and oil for KDAiS students.