Priest Alexander Romanushko went on his own initiative with partisans on missions and reconnaissance

Alexander Romanushko, who served in the Pinsk diocese, is a famous "partisan priest". In 1942, when the threat of annihilation loomed over him, he went to the partisan detachment of the Pinsk compound.

Archpriest Sergius Ryaboy, clergyman of St. Varvarinsky Cathedral in Pinsk:

With partisans he came to those villages that were burned. There he performed the rite of burial for the dead. It is difficult for me to imagine this, because according to the Soviet model, the commissars did this.

Alexander Romanushko was a priest who was not only in the partisan camp. He went on his own initiative with the partisans on missions, including reconnaissance, obtained important information. But he did not forget about the main mission of the priest - he supported the flock spiritually and performed services.

Sergei Granik, director of the military history museum named after D. K. Udovikov. D. K. Udovikov:

Civilians from the village came and asked the priest Alexander, as the local priest did not want to bury a murdered Polizei. They came to Korzh, knowing that he had Romanushko in service. Korzh says: I can't force you, it's your choice. You can go, or not go. He decided to go.

"To those gathered at the cemetery, Father Alexander said:

"We will not read the burial service for him, because he is a traitor to our Motherland and does not deserve the burial service. How can we sing "Rest in peace" to him - to a man who not only betrayed, but also killed his compatriots, his relatives and friends? How can we sing for a murderer 'peace to Thee with the saints'?"

This sermon of the priest made the collaborators think. A few days later, many of the Polizei sided with the partisans together with weapons and ammunition. After the liberation of Pinsk Alexander Romanushko managed all the parishes of the Pinsk Diocese.

Archpriest Sergius Ryaboy, clergyman of St. Varvarinsky Cathedral in Pinsk:

He made a report to His Holiness the Patriarch on the affairs of the diocese: how many priests suffered during the war years from the fascists, who was killed, who was in prison. He took this administration into his own hands. And then he was appointed to the city of Mozyr as rector of the cathedral.

During the Great Patriotic War, the attitude of the political and military leadership of the Soviet Union to the institution of the church changed dramatically. On September 4, 1943 Stalin met with the hierarchs in the Kremlin, and on September 8, the patriarch was elected, Sergius Stragorodsky. Many military leaders, ordinary officers and soldiers had icons and resorted to prayer, visited churches - active and closed.