Themes by tag: religion

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

In the Kyiv region, invincibility points will be set up based on temples of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. In the near future, it will be known exactly where they will be deployed.

For reference: Invincibility points are places where people can warm up, access water, electricity, Internet, and so on.

• blackout
• religion
• Kyiv

Andriy Zelinskyy, the priest, is one of the first army chaplains in Ukraine. In June 2014, he was offering spiritual support to Ukrainian soldiers in the east of the country. In particular, in the Armed Forces of Ukraine units near Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Staroihnativka, in the Avdiivka industrial zone, in Pisky, Debaltseve, Shyrokyne and Vodiane of Donetsk region. And in Kyiv, he visited the first wounded soldiers in the Central Military Hospital.

Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine need hundreds of chaplains for the army. In October, Ukraine even established a military chaplaincy service, which organizes the training of chaplains. The course is provided that should help to acquire the basic competencies of a serviceman in a very short time, so that it is easier to integrate the team. 

For reference: Army chaplains are clergymen who combine their ecclesiastical rank with other activities. A chaplain can be a Ukrainian citizen with a degree in theology, who is a clergyman of a church or religious organization registered in Ukraine. He must also receive a mandate from his church to be entitled to carry out chaplaincy activities.

• military
• religion
• Kyiv

The city of Uman in Cherkasy region, where tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews gather every year to celebrate the arrival of the Jewish New Year, is expecting a visit of more than 10,000 pilgrims this year. Despite the prohibition of the Security Service of Ukraine, Hasids have already begun gathering in the city where the founder of Breslov Hasidism Rabbi Nachman is buried.

According to local authorities, more than a thousand people have already arrived in Uman from Israel. This year, Rosh Hashanah falls on September 25-26. The largest influx of religious tourists in the city is expected after September 20.

• religion
• Cherkasy