A Chaplain from the Lviv Academy on Lifelong Learning and Why New Knowledge Matters During Wartime

Father Nazar Trukhym serves as a military chaplain with the Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He traces his calling to the priesthood back to early childhood.

"When I was a little boy, I used milk and bread to imitate the Divine Liturgy. It fascinated me, and I still remember it as the moment I first felt God's calling," he recalls.

What began as a childhood dream eventually became a lifelong vocation. Today, Father Nazar is a trusted presence within his military unit, where service members look forward to his visits.

"Whenever I arrive, I see smiles. I always try to say something encouraging, to offer support. God has given me the ability to lift people's spirits, and seeing those smiles brings joy to my own heart."

He describes his role with humility.

"Sometimes a commander has to deliver difficult messages. My role is different. I try to speak words that don't wound the soul but bring healing instead."

Service members come to him for confession, Holy Communion, and often simply for a conversation.

"A priest is, in many ways, a spiritual psychologist. I thank God for giving me enough knowledge to help guide people through difficult moments."

Learning to Serve Better

Father Nazar learned about the training through Facebook, registered, and decided to participate.

"I really enjoyed it. The training gave me a tremendous amount of knowledge that is directly relevant to my ministry as a military chaplain."

For him, continuing to learn is not optional — especially in wartime.

"Even during war, we need to keep learning. The knowledge I gained through this training is incredibly valuable and practical for the work we do every day."

The project "Clergy and Communities in Support of Mental Health: Innovative Support Practices During the War in Ukraine" is implemented by Eleos-Ukraine in partnership with DanChurchAid and Norwegian Church Aid in Ukraine, with financial support from the Government of Norway (NORAD), in cooperation with the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy and the Lviv Orthodox Theological Academy.