A priest of UOC (MP) liberated his parishioner from captivity
Clergyman of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) Archpriest George Zarafutdinov liberated from captivity in Luhansk Valeriy Kholonivets, a sergeant of the 24th Yavoriv Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to UNIAN Religion, after two hours of talks, rector of St Elias Church in Lugansk Fr. Yuri Zarafutdinov secured the release of Valeriy Kholonivets, a resident of Borochyche village, Horokhiv district of Volyn region.
“Now Valery is with me, he is in the high spirits. He says that when prisoner he prayed and asked God to eat coliphia on Christmas at home. The transfer of the prisoner of war took place at the checkpoint, under the snipers’ gun. But this is already in the past. Our entire village prayed for the liberation of our guy,” says Father Yuriy.
The priest says that Archpriest Mykola Kovalchuk, rector of St. Michael's church of the UOC in the village of Nesvich, Lutsk district, Volyn region, has also participated in the release of Kholonivets.
According to Fr Yuriy Zarafutdinov, Holonivets was staying in captivity since October 15, 2014, and was mobilized in August 2014
“When I saw the video on YouTube, where the guy from our village told that he was a prisoner, I decided to seek his release. His mother is our parishioner, she suffered, it was hard to see her pain. Before Valeriy was mobilized, we prayed to God with him in our church. I am a simple priest from the village, but I believe this is the will of God. I just got into the car and went to liberate Valeriy. I did not know if I succeed, but knew if I do it, it will bring great joy to guy’s family,” said Yuri Zarafutdinov.
He added that the liberation of Kholonivetstook place without exchange of prisoners of war. Meanwhile, the leadership of the People’s Republic of Luhansk earlier intended to exchange Kholonivetsfor their people.
“I think that the Great Martyr Anastasia helped us herself. Coincidentally, Valeriy’s liberation occurred on January 4, when the Orthodox Church commemorates St. Anastasia the Deliverer from Bonds, onto whom we are praying for the liberation of prisoners. In Luhansk we were also assisted by local priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, for which we are very grateful,” Yuriy Zarafutdinov concludes.
