Themes by tag: religion

On February 26, 2022, Vasyl Vyrozub, the abbot of the Odesa Holy Trinity Church of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, was captured by the enemy. He was among those who went to Snake Island to collect the bodies of the border guards, who were still considered dead at that time.

The Ukrainian ship that Vasyl was traveling on was captured by the russian cruiser “Moskva.” The man, along with two other military chaplains and a doctor, was captured by the russians. Vasyl’s captivity lasted 70 days, during which he was tortured. The russians interrogated the Ukrainians constantly: they could not understand why the crew had set out to collect the bodies of the border guards. The captives were forced to sing the national anthem of the aggressor country, stand on their knees, and were kept in solitary confinement.

After being captured, Vasyl received the Memory of Nations award from the Czech non-profit organization Post Bellum, the main purpose of which is to honor living witnesses of historical events: war veterans, political prisoners.

For reference: The fighting for Snake Island began on February 24, 2022, when russian invaders captured the island. At first all 13 Ukrainian border guards who had been protecting the island were considered to have been killed. Subsequently, the Border Service of Ukraine reported that the Snake island defenders may be in captivity.

On July 4, 2022, Snake Island returned under Ukraine’s control. 

• casualties
• prisoners
• religion
• russian crimes

On December 10, in Kyiv, Plast will hold the first official event in Ukraine to transfer the Light of Bethlehem to the military, civil and volunteer organizations. In particular, representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, “Come back Alive” Foundation, the Serhiy Prytula Foundation, BUR, ULA and many others will receive a lamp with the Light from the Holy Land.

Plast scouts will receive a lamp with the Light of Bethlehem at a traditional scouting ceremony in Vienna on the morning of December 10 and will immediately take it to Kyiv. The event in the capital will begin with a marathon of good deeds for the military. Plast scouts and guests will make trench candles, helmets, bracelets and letters. Then this winter’s first official transfer of the Peace Light of Bethlehem in Ukraine will begin: Plast will share the Light with everyone present.

Later, through Ukrzaliznytsia, it will be distributed to all corners of the country. Lamps will also be delivered for defenders at the front lines.

Background: Plast has been participating in the “scout relay” of the Bethlehem Light for more than 30 years.

• culture
• military
• religion
• volunteers

On November 24, at 11:00 AM, Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform will host a briefing entitled: “The new calendar of the holidays of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine: how the dates of religious holidays have changed.”

Participants:

– Heorhii Kovalenko, priest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, (online).

For reference: On September 1, 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church switched to a new type of calendar. They will use the Revised Julian calendar. For example, if Christmas used to be celebrated on January 7 in Ukraine, now it is on December 25.

• religion
• Kyiv

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