Bishop Bohdan Manyshyn Celebrates Christmas with Soldiers in Eastern Ukraine
Bishop Bohdan Manyshyn, head of the Department of Military Chaplaincy of the Patriarchal Curia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, visited Ukrainian military personnel and chaplains in eastern Ukraine as part of a Christmas mission, visiting their deployment sites.
This was reported by the press center of the Military Chaplaincy Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
During his trip, Bishop Bohdan met with military chaplains Fr. Ihor Opatsky, Fr. Petro Mandziak, Fr. Sviatoslav Kiryk, and Fr. Vasyl Smetaniuk, who carry out pastoral ministry alongside the defenders of Ukraine.
During the visit, the bishop celebrated Divine services, greeted the soldiers on the feast of Christ’s Nativity, and sang Christmas carols with them, sharing in the joy of the Savior’s birth. The defenders also received Christmas treats from the clergy and faithful of the Stryi Eparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as a sign of support and prayer.
As military chaplain Fr. Petro Mandziak recalled, one of the most special and moving moments of the Christmas mission was the Divine Liturgy that Bishop Bohdan celebrated together with the soldiers in their dugout.
“Amid the trenches, we shared the warmth of our hearts and mutual support and glorified God with Christmas carols. May the newborn Christ grant our soldiers peace, protection, and strength, and may He bless the Ukrainian people on the path of unity, faith, and victory,” said Fr. Petro Mandziak.
