Representative of the UGCC Department on Matters of Military Chaplaincy visited the Kolomyja-Chernivtsi Eparchy

The deputy head of the Department of the Patriarchal Curia of the UGCC on Matters of Military Chaplaincy of Ukraine Fr. Lubomyr Yavorskyj visited the Kolomyja-Chernivtsi Eparchy, where he learned about the work of local military chaplains. A few meetings took place in the eparchy. First, Fr. Lubomyr met with Bishop Mykolay (Simkaylo), Eparch of Kolomyja-Chernivtsi. During their conversation Fr. Lubomyr presented a plan and strategy of developing military chaplaincy in Ukraine and said that “it is important to provide pastoral care for all the military structures that are on the territory of the eparchy.” Bishop Mykolay described the current state of military chaplaincy on the territory and noted “that he used to be in the military and perfectly understands the importance of spiritual guardianship for servicemen.” He also assured that he would develop the chaplaincy in such a way so that all the types of the Armed Forces structures will be provided with chaplains.  The next meeting took place with the main chaplain of the eparchy Fr. Oleksa Kuybida, who invited the Fr. Lubomyr to visit the military division A 1267 (military airport) for which he provides pastoral care. The chaplains met with the chief of the Kolomyja garrison and with the commander of the division, Colonel Basarab Roman Petrovych and his deputies. They discussed further cooperation and brought attention to the systematic character of the meetings of chaplain with servicemen. The command of the division thanked the priest for the visit and his spiritual care and showed the place where a chapel is to be built. In conclusion, the chaplains visited the town Nadvirna, where the Prykarpattya military sport lyceum is situated. The director Mykola Martynyuk showed the guest from Kyiv around the educational institution and they discussed further prospects of cooperation. It should be noted that on the territory of the institution, the chaplain Orest Putko, who is also the teacher of Christian ethics, ministers daily and celebrates the divine service in turn with a representative of the autocephalous church in the interdenominational church on the territory of lyceum.

Informed by Demian Haboriy