Ukrainian priest on funerals, food aid and prayers for victory
(RNS) — The war in Ukraine has raged on for practically five months, and the Rev. Oleksiy Zavada, a Greek Catholic priest in Lviv, has experienced rarely a moment’s rest.
Zavada is brief to place out the metropolis of Lviv has been spared the brunt of violence which is ripped as a result of several other sections of the region, primarily in the east. But even now, lifestyle in western Ukraine carries continuous reminders of the realities of war on the front traces.
“Many, quite a few, a lot of soldiers in our armies are from the western section of Ukraine,” Zavada, the notary of the Curia at the Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Lviv, instructed Faith Information Assistance on Saturday (July 9).
The Greek Catholic custom is a extensive-standing, historic strand of Catholicism in Ukraine, whose identify arrives from the resemblance of its worship companies, priestly vestments and use of icons to those people of the Greek or Byzantine rites observed in the course of Orthodox church buildings all over the world. Similarly, Greek Catholic clergymen are permitted to marry and have kids. Having said that, the Greek Catholic Church is and has long been below the authority of the pope.
Zavada, a priest of 13 decades, also ministers as assistant priest at the Parish of the Ascension of our Lord in the northeast part of the metropolis. He spoke over the mobile phone about the lots of funerals he’s presided about, how the lifetime of the church has changed — and stayed the exact same — because the war begun, and why he designs to stay, no make any difference how tired he is.
The adhering to dialogue has been edited for duration and clarity.
We see several priests serving with each other in images of funerals from Ukraine. Has this usually been frequent in Ukraine, or did it get started for the duration of the war?
The Rev. Oleksiy Zavada in Lviv, Ukraine. Courtesy image
Ordinarily in Ukraine when a human being dies, a person priest is existing for the funeral provider. But when a individual dies that performed an essential purpose in modern society, it’s usual that many clergymen appear for the funeral. Even clergymen from different denominations appear. As you know, the spiritual problem in Ukraine is that we have a pair of Orthodox Churches, we have the Roman Catholic Church, we have the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which I belong to.
This tradition, to gather numerous priests together at a funeral, seems to me to arrive from (the pro-European protests) in Maidan, in 2014, when many heroes that we call nebesna sotnya (the heavenly hundred) ended up killed.
The war with Russia began in 2014. Not 2022. It appears to me that from that period of time in 2014, it grew to become a custom for folks to fulfill the body of a fallen soldier: They go out on the road and they bow down on their knees and they make a live chain.
It’s a pity that we have these kinds of a custom, but there it is.
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So these funeral tactics both equally among the clergy and laypeople are not new —they date from previously national occasions — the Maidan rebellion, Revolution of Dignity, and Russia’s invasion of Crimea and the Donbas in 2014?
Of course, indeed. But of program, now, due to the fact Feb. 24 (2022), we have many, lots of far more fatalities of our troopers. So this observe is pretty much just about everywhere and ongoing.
We have a lot of, many funerals in Lviv. We have a person church (Sts. Peter and Paul Garrison Church) — it’s a chaplaincy church for soldiers. In this church there are funerals of fallen soldiers very generally.
We have films, photographs, these kinds of social networks. So in this way, we can listen to sermons for the duration of the funerals. You really feel that you take part in these funerals, even if you are not present in the making.
Of system some soldiers who are killed, we know (personally). For instance, one priest I know, his son was killed a few of weeks back: Father Mykhaylo Dymyd, his son, Artem Dymyd, was killed.
You say there are frequently clergy from a lot of diverse Christian traditions at funerals. Are there Ukrainian priests from the Moscow Patriarchate who go to these funerals?
I don’t know of any these kinds of conditions — that clergymen from the Moscow Patriarchate come for funerals. You know, the posture of persons, of our trustworthy, of Ukrainians in relation to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate, is rather, very damaging. In different areas of Ukraine, the area regional administrations have built decisions to forbid these parishes (less than the Moscow Patriarchate) in their areas.
I must say that they (those Ukrainian priests underneath the Moscow Patriarchate) are attempting not to increase their voices. It appears to me they really don’t know what will be upcoming for their church in Ukraine. But you ought to recognize, and hold in thoughts, that I’m conversing generally from the standpoint of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
A cloud of smoke rises after an explosion in Lviv, western Ukraine, March 18, 2022. (AP Image, File)
What is the weekly company routine like in the course of wartime?
Typically for Lviv parishes, we serve liturgies each individual working day. So each and every working day in our parish, we have liturgy, matins, vespers.
So we continue on our each day plan.
But the archeparchy determined, when the war started, to pray working day and night time. So starting off from the end of February, in our parish, for example, we (have) experienced consistent, ongoing prayer day and evening. The full day is divided into one particular hour (slots). A person is responsible for that hour.
It’s not uncomplicated, you know. Having up in the night. But it’s our spiritual entrance.
We connect with it parish prayer, it’s generally lay people who acquire duty for a concrete hour. (Although also) priests participate in this chain of prayer.
What are some other issues the Greek Catholic Archeparchy in Lviv is executing in reaction to the war?
A person of the initial archeparchal choices, in addition to prayer, was that priests should stay in their parishes. Quite a few clergymen despatched their family members overseas at the conclude of February and it looks to me now that numerous people of priests are abroad. Monks simply cannot cross the border now, for the reason that it’s wartime and in the course of wartime quite a few men (are not permitted) to cross the border. Lots of monks see their family members only about the net.
The Rev. Oleksiy Zavada. Courtesy picture
From the starting of the war, my loved ones moved to a village around the Polish border. They are nonetheless there. And after, each two months, I test to stop by them. For an American, it is not a major length: 70-80 km. But for Ukrainians it is rather considerably. Normally I arrive Sunday in the night and on Monday afternoon, I depart to Lviv all over again.
What have you observed people today in your parish struggling with the most throughout this time of war?
Numerous of our men and women are generally (eaten) by the information: in social media, Facebook, Tv, radio. A particular person are not able to remain, all the time, in the information. So persons necessary to have some rest. It appears to me they found a short time of peace whilst in church, in prayer.
Also to do lively things, it appears to me, aids our persons. For instance, females in the parish, they get ready vereniki (standard Ukrainian dumplings). For them it is like their weekly services. They get with each other for a pair of hours, they prepare vereniki, some many others prepare cakes. We freeze them and we find a way to move this foodstuff to our troopers. Or to those people who are in need to have.
These active matters — planning foodstuff, cooking, baking — it can help men and women not to be concerned in the information all the time.
Have you noticed a lot more people coming to church for the duration of the war?
Many, numerous folks, not only from the north of Ukraine, eastern Ukraine, southern Ukraine, (but also) several men and women from western Ukraine moved overseas. Especially young people, younger families with tiny small children. I quite normally listen to from monks that the variety of people who take a look at church is diminished. And also we must maintain in mind, before the war was the pandemic. So we have had distinct limits for liturgical presence and participation.
You describe such a lot heading on in Lviv, from constant funerals to consistent prayer. Are you worn out, Father? How are you emotion?
How am I feeling?
It’s a tricky query.
Truthfully, I need to like to have some relaxation. (He laughs.) I would like to have a vacation. But I feel that for now it’s not achievable for me. And I say to myself, my condition, as a priest in Ukraine dwelling here in the western section of Ukraine — in comparison to individuals monks in the north aspect of Ukraine, or east or south — we are in pretty superior affliction.
During this war we can’t say we are drained. I just review my situation (to the) problem of those people who are below rockets and bombs. For now my conscience suggests I simply cannot have rest. I should do the job. We ought to function all together. Of class lots of people say, I am tired. But if we say this, we will drop this war. We will have relaxation right after victory.
A Ukrainian lady dressed in military attire prays within the Sts. Peter and Paul Garrison Church in Lviv, western Ukraine, March 6, 2022. (AP Photograph/Bernat Armangue)
