Themes by tag: religion

On September 21, a press conference entitled: “Interfaith cooperation between religious communities in Ukraine and the United States for the sake of peace in Ukraine” will be held in Kyiv. The participants include (in person):

• Dr. Mohammed Zaher Sahloul, MedGlobal President, professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and the University of Washington,
• Kareem M. Irfan, Vice President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA),
• Rev. Gregory Seal Livingston, Ordained Baptist Minister, Pastor, Preacher,
• Sheikh Rustam Gafuri, Deputy Mufti of Ukraine of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine, representative of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations,
• Evelina Kurilets, Director at Razom for Ukraine Charitable Foundation.

The topics of focus at the press conference include: countering the propaganda of the russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill in the U.S. and Muslim countries, as well as conveying the truth about the war in Ukraine to the highest political circles in the U.S.

• religion
• Kyiv

Hasidic pilgrims have been arriving in Uman, Cherkasy region to celebrate Rosh Hashanah for a week. This year, the celebration of the Jewish New Year falls on September 15-17. It is widely known that Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, founder of Breslover Hasidim, is buried in the city.

Security measures are being tightened in Uman. From September 11 to 21, a special regime of entry and exit, as well as the citizens’ travel through the city will be in place. Journalists who want to cover the celebration must obtain special permits.

Earlier, the regional authorities recommended that pilgrims refrain from visiting the country, given the war and regular mass shelling.

• religion
• Cherkasy

Kateryna Semenyuk from Lutsk became a volunteer and military chaplain after russia’s full-scale invasion. At first, Kateryna helped to collect aid for Ukrainians from abroad, then she began making trips to the de-occupied territories. And now she regularly visits the frontline. With her husband Serhii, Kateryna is raising five children, the youngest son, Luka, was born on February 24, 2022, the day when russia began its full-scale invasion.

For reference: Military chaplains are priests who combine their ecclesiastical rank with other activities. A chaplain can be a citizen of Ukraine with a higher theological education who is a part of clergy of a church or religious organization registered in Ukraine. They must also obtain a mandate from their own church for the right to perform chaplaincy.

• religion
• volunteers

Kateryna Semenyuk from Lutsk became a volunteer and military chaplain after russia’s full-scale invasion. At first, Kateryna helped to collect aid for Ukrainians from abroad, then she began making trips to the de-occupied territories. And now she regularly visits the frontline. With her husband Serhii, Kateryna is raising five children, the youngest son, Luka, was born on February 24, 2022, the day when russia began its full-scale invasion.

For reference: Military chaplains are priests who combine their ecclesiastical rank with other activities. A chaplain can be a citizen of Ukraine with a higher theological education who is a part of clergy of a church or religious organization registered in Ukraine. They must also obtain a mandate from their own church for the right to perform chaplaincy.

• religion
• women

Priest Andriy Zelinskyy is one of the first military chaplains in Ukraine. In June 2014, he provided spiritual support to Ukrainian soldiers in the east of the country. In Kyiv, he visited the first wounded in the Central Military Hospital.

Currently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine is in need of hundreds of chaplains for the army. In October 2022, Ukraine even saw the creation of the Military Chaplaincy Service to organize the training of chaplains.

For reference: Military chaplains are priests who combine their ecclesiastical office with other activities. A citizen of Ukraine with a higher theological education who is a clergyman of a church or religious organization registered in Ukraine may become a chaplain. This person must also be authorized to act as a chaplain by their church.

• military
• religion

A ‘point of invincibility’ has opened in St. Andrew’s Church in Kyiv. The Kyiv City Military Administration reports that the Point of Invincibility can accommodate several dozen people. It has Internet connection, is equipped with a powerful generator, industrial electric fan heater, medical supplies, hot drinks, and a small library. In addition, any visitor can receive spiritual support, namely, a talk to a priest.

For reference: St. Andrew’s Church is an 18th-century historical architectural monument of decorative art of world significance built in 1747-1762 in the Baroque style by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.

• blackout
• religion
• Kyiv

Olena is a female chaplain who visits Ukrainian defenders in the hottest spots at the frontline. She prays with the military and supplies them with humanitarian aid. And bedsides, Olena had brought to life the chaplain’s initiative to create a mobile dental clinic (where both military and civilians are treated).

• religion
• volunteers
• women

Said Ismagilov is from Donetsk region. Before russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he was the Mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Ummah.” After the start of the full-scale war, he resigned and went to the front as a volunteer. Now he serves in one of the paramedic brigades in Bakhmut. In particular, he takes the wounded to the aid station. There is also a video of him reading one of the chapters of the Quran dedicated to victory in the ruins of this city.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• religion

Father Tykhon is a Greek Catholic priest from Maryinka in Donetsk region. In 2014, when russia first tried to seize the region, Father Tykhon was captured because of his pro-Ukrainian activities. After his release, he was forced to leave his home. Currently, he works as a priest and a psychologist in Lviv. He helps not only the military, but also civilians, in particular, refugees and parents of captured Ukrainian defenders. 

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• psychological support
• religion
• Lviv

The Christmas service will be held in the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. It will be led by Metropolitan Epiphany (priest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine). The service will be held on January 7, at 9 AM. Media representatives need to receive accreditation: submit applications here by 4:00 PM on January 6, 2023.

(The police will ensure that the event takes place without any incidents).

For reference: on January 5, the news came out that the Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra were officially returned to the state. Previously, these churches had been rented by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP). In addition, at the beginning of December last year, the National Security and Defense Council introduced sanctions against some clergymen of the UOC MP, including the Vicegerent of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Pavlo (Lebid). Today the reports came in that the Security Council of Ukraine completed counterintelligence (security) measures at the facilities of the UOC MP in Kherson, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk and Rivne regions. Libraries with pro-kremlin literature, campaign leaflets of political parties banned in Ukraine and russian symbols are reported to have been found on the territory of the churches.

• religion
• Kyiv