In Ivano-Frankivsk, future priests were introduced to the opportunities of chaplaincy ministry

According to the organizers, the purpose of the conference is to familiarize future priests with the possibilities of joining the military chaplaincy service, present current Ukrainian legislation on military chaplaincy, provide information on structures in religious organizations and the state that deal with military chaplaincy, and discuss practical aspects of military chaplains' activities in Ukraine.

“Today, together with the relevant units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and students of Ivano-Frankivsk theological schools, we are holding a meeting to show that serving in the Ukrainian army is prestigious, for who is to support the military now if not the Church,” commented Fr Oleh Kaskiv, rector of the Ivano-Frankivsk St. John Chrysostom Academy, while speaking to RISU. "Our students attend a seminary fraternity that cooperates with military chaplains. Additionally, we have good cooperation with representatives of other denominations. In general, the issue of serving in the army is very relevant and requires extensive study and joint discussion.”

Bishop Bohdan Manyshyn, Head of the Department of Military Chaplaincy at the Patriarchal Curia of the UGCC, said that there is a great need to increase the number of military chaplains: “We have a great need for our chaplains, for in times of war there are many military units that need them in different parts of Ukraine and not only on the front line. Spiritual care should be provided by priests with appropriate training and who serve professionally. In our theological educational institutions, we want to educate a pleiad of chaplains who would serve alongside those defending us. That is why the slogan “to be there for them” is not trite, as it reflects the essence of chaplaincy itself."

The coordinator and representative of military chaplains in the Ivano-Frankivsk Archeparchy of the UGCC, Fr Roman Zalesky, says that he will share his own experience and best practices with the seminary students in accordance with the current legislation on chaplaincy.

“2014 and the 2020s are a completely different ministry, as now the state somehow takes care of military chaplains, that is, they are on the staff of a military unit, which is already a parish. However, there are still some challenges to be legally resolved, for example, regarding denominations, the number of chaplains, etc. I would also like to emphasize that a military chaplain is not a volunteer, and we need to understand and explain this. Today's conference, in particular, should help us hear each other.”

“At present, the issue of chaplains in the army is highly relevant because spiritual support is the factor that has the greatest impact on the performance of tasks by soldiers,” emphasizes Colonel Oleksandr Bondar, head of the department for organizing the activities of military chaplains of the Military Chaplaincy Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ”Our men are in extremely difficult conditions and faith is what saves them, gives them strength, inspiration, and endurance. Indeed, there is a great demand for it. Many people who have gone through the wringer and have, let's say, two or three birthdays, become believers. The men at the front create spiritual corners of sorts for their chaplains, who become like parents to them. For instance, my chaplain did not sleep at night because the soldiers were always coming to him to pour their hearts out and cry. They were shy at first, but later, they would practically line up to see him. That's why this work is difficult and requires support.”

Therefore, during the conference “Military Chaplaincy Service: Opportunities for Theological Students,” its participants and guests were able to hear a lot of interesting information, get answers to their questions, and share experiences and perspectives of ministry.

Reference. According to the second part of Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Military Chaplaincy Service,” a mandatory requirement for the position of military chaplain is a higher theological education. St. John Chrysostom Academy is the only higher education institution in the Ivano-Frankivsk region that trains specialists in theology at the bachelor's and master's levels of higher education in full-time and part-time programs. The Academy has 244 theological students.