Rufim is famous as being the first metropolitan who actively took part in armed confrontations with the Ottoman Empire, leading Montenegrin army in three major battles in 1601, 1604 and 1613.
Sanjak-bey of Shkodër Ali-beg Mimibegović led an army of 12,000 from Podgorica and clashed with 400 Montenegrins in Lješanska nahija.
Rufim reinforced them with 500 Katunjani during the day and sent dozens of small three-members groups, in total amount of 50 warriors to spy and to attack the opponent from rear.
Both armies failed, as the first one was stopped in Lješanska nahija again without reaching Cetinje, and the second one was defeated when Rufim personally led a side attack of 700 Katunjani in the aid of Piperi, Bjelopavlići and Rovčani forces which were already engaging enemy around the village of Kosov lug.
In his "History of Montenegro" Sima Sarajlija lists as one of his more memorable deeds that he: This Metropolitan has done an exceptional deed for Orthodox Christianity and thus awoke the Serbdom with no small extent, by converting back to eastern religion Kuči, Bratonožići and Drekalovići, from Roman faith to which they were lured shortly before by Albanian priests, with whom they share a border and sibling relationsIt is, thus, possible that it was him, rather than Metropolitan Rufim Boljević who famously converted Kuči Vojvode Lale Drekalov.