"There are the rules of the Church – the priest must not take up arms. But the rules always have an exception. Remember Tatar invasion - the first took the weapon in hand the monks, shaved head, defended the Family. This Holy cause"

About this on his page in Facebook wrote the Cyborgs-2015 - art project about the heroes of our time.

Father Yuri, Yuri in the world Kazmirenko, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate, is in Holy spirit Church on Rusanovka (Kiev).

A native of Zhitomir area. Graduated from the law faculty of KNEU (former Narkhoz). Already working as a lawyer, I came to the fact that reading spiritual literature much better than law.

Went studying in absentia in the Theological Academy, he entered in 2008 and graduated in 2012.

Participated in the events on Maidan. At night so people are not afraid to stand up - each time was a Hymn and a prayer. At 8 a.m. the closing prayer at 6 PM begins again, and again until the morning.

The first death on the Maidan, a young man dropped from the arch, then finished off at the bottom. Then killed Sergei Nigoyan. Morning Requiem mass was served. Began active events on the Grushevsky street. Burned buses. Guys these buses, threw stones, bottles with an incendiary mix. In response to rubber bullets.

- What are you doing, you'll be killed! cry out to the protesters.

- Pop, what are you doing here? Just go explain to them in response.

- And go I'm afraid! - climbed over the barricade and went to the front ranks of Berkut that stood across the Grushevsky street.

- What are you doing, there are kids in there! – telling.

- Come on... out of here, moron!

Already unfold to the guys:

- Stop!

They stopped. Unfold to the cops, go to them.

- What are you, drunk?

- No...

- Well, you're a fool then!

At this point, the guys flip the bus, strengthen the barricade. While talking with cops, turn around, look to the barricade grew instantly. There was a turning point, the transition from apparent shooting the guys who just run around the street, until the confrontation at the barricade already.

Had to walk between security forces and people, hold the line, the distance of separation. Tightened even priests from the Maidan.

Saw worked provocateurs, secretly – dumped, moved away, watching the result. You know, on principle – in the crowd the first thief shouts "hold the thief".

As time passed, Yanukovych ran away, to the funeral of the Heavenly Hundred. All who stood from the first day – went home or to the East. But some remained, sat and sit.

- What are you doing here? – ask.

- Well, we control the power!

Waved his hand and there is not more to come.

After a week went to the Crimea, to his priest, he was one of several parishes that have not had time physically. Wanted to stay there but started this "spin", the annexation. Was there almost six months, including the period after the referendum.

Sometimes speak the Ukrainian language. It was interesting to observe the reaction: the same indifference, someone's aggression, the Crimean Tatars are happy, the cops lowered their eyes, ashamed.

In late July – early August, received a summons to the military enlistment office. Come, I say, "I'm a priest. Ready to go, you know, what priests need. The word support. To say a fighter - you're not a killer, you're the defender of the Motherland".

Went Commission with God's help, because until then had two strokes.

In a week or sent to the 95th airmobile brigade in Zhytomyr.

Come, been waiting a long time. Already night and we still make out. While you wait – come the children, one, two, three. Ask questions. In ordinary life, because as it happens – not done today in the Church – well come tomorrow, or next week. And here war man knows – tomorrow may never come. Finally the officer who writes the someone to determine:

- What You write? asks.

- Chaplain.

But there is no such office in the army.

- Well then take a driver.

- Well. But the driver in the war should be with the machine.

'I can't take up arms, I am a priest.

- Well, then go home.

Going home, coming to the Commissar.

- Here, "I said," about the gun is the problem.

- Well, I'll talk, You want.

In two weeks called again: "Go to Lviv, in the 80th airmobile".

Come to Lviv – the same picture. Again, "go home." What to do? Come to Kiev and come to the senior priests, with experience. Ask:

- How to be with this weapon. Want to join the army, you know – the weapons should be, but I know – not!

- You know what, father Yuriy, take it, let him stay somewhere in the machine. And it is gonna be to defend and protect others.

This is reasonable. There are the rules of the Church – the priest must not take up arms. But the rules always have an exception. Remember Tatar invasion - the first took the weapon in hand the monks, shaved head, defended the Family. This sacred task. And there are many such examples.

A little later calls the Commissar:

- In the Aidar go?

- Go! Record!

Write "attendant – driver", issued. I Kombat (Melnichuk at the time).

- I didn't call! says.

- Me God called, I answered.

From the machine gun didn't shoot. Came there, where they were shelling, took out wounded children under fire as a medic. But sometimes, on the way funeral, with a prayer to the hospital went. What can you do, the war... Served Liturgy and had communion. Like all conventional priests.

One fits:

- Father, we need to confess... and I know he's a sniper. Snipers are a special breed.

- Let's go.

- Can it a little bit?..

- No, it's not something you need to confess a sober, clean soul.

- Well, then you should not...

You know, while there is a desire – you need to catch the moment. He is ready to cleanse the soul. Then such a moment might not be. The priest should be allowed because it is important.

Take a bottle, let's go, ğ I said.

All sorts of things happen. Holiday – people congratulated me, the weapon for protection, and not the fate of the murder sanctified, and blessed health. People need it. Then a lot of times called, said "Father, thank you!".

Spiritual sphere, she is so that her eye sometimes will not see, it can only be felt.

The battalion worked the woman from Raygorodka (it is 15 km from Happiness), local, to eat cooked. Says: "in our village there is a temple, was the priest, but turned out to be a separatist, went on a separatist checkpoint, took our SBU-schnick. The Church has no priest". I Metropolitan:

- How to be?

- If people agree to transfer to the Kyivan Patriarchate, they shall have a priest. Always.

Walked around the village for a few days, have collected 5 sheets A-4 signatures, agreed with the village head to collect village meeting, so that people themselves have decided they want to move from the Moscow Patriarchate in Kiev.

In one of the Sundays serve the Liturgy, pray. Come servants of the Moscow Patriarchate, former members of this Church, organize a riot, start to rampage through, flip everything, tearing clothes, tearing away my cross. And it's Holy sacrament, the blood of Jesus Christ.

I was so stressed out that the pressure rose. Liturgy deluisa, but the next day I had to go to the hospital. Was hospitalized with a hypertensive crisis. And at this time was to be held a village meeting. In the end, those who signed up – didn't come at all, or were not notified, and Pro – come. That is our fault. And anyway, it's not the kind of environment where you just need a push. What is different in the East? "You give us. And we are still thinking to take or not. Better yet, chew and put in his mouth". They have such psychology, mentality such.

Dolezal in the hospital. I say "how did You even get into the army? You get out of the army. God forbid another stroke, and all."

So I quit.

In the battalion Aidar on the chevrons is written "God With us". People believe God, but many trust God. This is very important. When you trust God – all beautifully turns out, not even afraid of bullets. Therefore, God must be trusted blindly!

Forever God be praised!

July 24, 2015 Yuri Kazmirenko, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate awarded the order of "national Hero of Ukraine".

photo by Roman Nikolayev

Source: «Кіборги - 2015» / Cyborgs - 2015

МБФ "СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ" / ICF "GLORY TO UKRAINE" / FIB "GLOIRE À L'UKRAINE"