Priest of the UOC: They don’t ask about what kind of patriarchy we are on the front line

Archpriest Sergiy Nechiporuk, rector of the church in honor of the Great Martyr Panteleimon in the village of Novye Bezradichi in the Kiev region, has been helping the Ukrainian military as a volunteer and chaplain since the beginning of the war, collecting the things they need and taking everything to the places of the most fierce battles.  He spoke about this in an interview with Dialog.TUT.

“I do not always wear priestly robes or a cassock.  Sometimes, there was a need to arrive quickly.  But the attitude towards the priest is normal.  Sometimes, some questions are asked everyday.  On the front line they don’t ask about what kind of patriarchy we are.

The priest also said that “the issue of language on the front line is not relevant either.  They speak Ukrainian, Russian, one guy even spoke Belarusian.  Everyone there is like one family.  This is where collaborators start dividing people.”

Father Sergius has a chaplain’s certificate.  Without it, it is hardly possible to get to the front line, because a civilian, even a volunteer, may not be allowed to pass.  And if you have a military certificate, you will be allowed to pass at checkpoints.

“I ask once: “Guys, do you even pray a little here?”  “Father,” they answer, “everyone prays here.  Especially when there is an arrival … “They have such jargon, I won’t even give it to you, but I never made a remark to them,” the priest shares his impressions.