“Being close is the main task of a military chaplain,” the bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church affirm
The Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine has issued a special appeal to clergy serving as military chaplains.
The document, signed by His Beatitude Sviatoslav on June 4, the feast day of St. Metrophanes, Patriarch of Constantinople, outlines the theological and spiritual dimensions of the military chaplain’s ministry in the context of full-scale war.
“In these two words—to be present—lies the very essence of the mission of a military chaplain!”—emphasize the bishops in their message “I have chosen you,” taken from Christ’s words to the apostles.
The bishops compared the ministry of chaplains to the mission of the apostles: “Each of them was close to the Lord so that now, through their own service to the Church of God, all those whom they serve may also feel Christ’s presence among them.”
The Synod noted the unique mission of military chaplains, which “shapes a new identity for military priests, in which the roles of clergyman and military officer are inseparably united.”
The bishops recalled that the vocation to chaplaincy has its origin in God: “The mission of a military chaplain cannot and will never be merely your personal rationally calculated decision or an institutional function assigned by the competent state authorities.”
The Synod pointed to the particular challenges faced by military chaplains: “Being close to war is a painful experience. It makes you feel the wounds of others as if they were your own.” At the same time, the bishops emphasized the healing power of such a presence for soldiers and their families.
The message draws particular attention to the spiritual health of the chaplains themselves. “Your state of mind directly affects your ability to serve your brothers and sisters,” the bishops remind us, calling for responsible care for one’s own mental health.
The Synod called on military chaplains to brotherhood: “Your spiritual fraternity in Christ is the most secure foundation for the structure of pastoral care for military personnel.” The bishops recalled the example of Blessed Martyr Omelyan Kovch and other military chaplains as role models.
“Remain steadfast in your service to those who are in such great need of God today. Your humble presence can be the most eloquent testimony of His loving care,” the bishops of the UGCC said to the chaplains.
The UGCC Department for Information
