“I began this war with a rifle in my hands. Now I serve with a cross”: the story of medical chaplain Serhii Sushchenko

Serhii Sushchenko is a protoiereus of the Poltava Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and a medical chaplain at the Poltava Regional Clinical Hospital named after M.Sklifosovsky. His daily work is not only about prayer, but about constant presence alongside people in the most difficult moments of their lives.

A ward where most of patients are bedridden

Father Serhii’s office is located in the palliative care unit. A small room serves as both a chapel and a place to store essential church items — a starting point for his daily rounds.

Palliative patients are people with incurable, progressive illnesses that inevitably lead to death.Most of them are bedridden; many are unconscious and connected to medical equipment.

“I first go to the nurses’ station to learn whether anyone has passed away or if there are new patients. Then I walk through the wards. I approach every bed. For those who are unconscious, I come close, make the sign of the cross, and if relatives are present, I speak with them. Then I go to those I can talk to. Some people believe that prayer can bring healing. And if not, they want at least to leave this world with a clear soul. Some ask for communion and anointing. Others are afraid — they think it is only done before death. And some simply ask me to pray for them and their loved ones.”

A volunteer and a former fighter

In addition to his work in the palliative care department, Father Serhiy serves in several rehabilitation centers. He supports amputees and civilians recovering from major surgeries, leads religious services, and counsels those who have survived injuries or captivity, as well as the families of fallen soldiers, missing persons, and prisoners. He also works with veterans who have returned from the war and are trying to reintegrate into civilian life.

“There is an official Protestant chaplain at the military hospital. According to the canons of his denomination and the OCU, he cannot perform Orthodox sacraments. That is why we cooperate. He calls me and says: ‘Come pray with the soldiers, bless them, celebrate Easter.’ And I go. We support each other.”

Even before his official appointment as a chaplain, Father Serhiy supported hospitals as a volunteer. Through contacts in the United States and Canada, he organized the delivery of essential medical equipment and supplies. Recently, his team received 24 large shipments of humanitarian aid — ranging from crutches and walkers to essential patient care items. This assistance was provided by volunteers from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of St. Volodymyr (Hampstead, Long Island, New York) and received in Ukraine by Ukrainian American Galina Fenchenko and her family.

He also highlights the contribution of a volunteer from Poltava, Zoya Voronyanska, who has been supporting the military since 2014. On one of the flags, she painted an icon of Archangel Michael. The flag was blessed together with servicemen at a rehabilitation center and later raised the highest amount at a charity auction in the United States, helping generate additional funds for hospitals.

From revolution to frontline to chaplaincy

Father Serhii has an extraordinary biography. He began fighting for Ukraine’s independence in the late 1980s; while serving as a Komsomol shop organizer, he opposed the Communist Party. In 1990, he joined the People’s Movement of Ukraine (Rukh), and later that year in Konotop, he founded and led (until 1995) the Union of Independent Ukrainian Youth, which later became the Ukrainian Youth Association. In 2014, he went to the front with a weapon in his hands. He subsequently took part in all the major protest movements, until 2014, when he went to the front with a weapon in his hands.

“We prayed and fought at the same time — and then prayed again. I officially became a chaplain during the full-scale war. Before that, I served in that role informally, as a volunteer.”

Learning as part of service

Father Serhii learned about the training program for clergy through a network of medical chaplains. He registered and attended. The first training, focused on palliative care, was especially relevant to his daily work. He had already completed a clinical pastoral care course through the Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine and a theological academy.

“But even with that knowledge and experience, there were situations where I didn’t know what to do. The trainer — also an experienced medical chaplain — spoke the same professional language. I asked specific questions and received clear answers. I always try to learn. It is a chance to gain new knowledge and exchange experience with others,” he says.

Leadership training also brought new insights, particularly in communication and working with people.

“Even if you have experience, there are things you simply haven’t reflected on before. And here they become clear. I am grateful to Eleos-Ukraine for this work. They are not just organizing training — they are bringing together people who have something meaningful to share. Trainers, chaplains, priests with different life paths — this is a space for real exchange. You cannot get that from a book or an online course. And special thanks to the donors — DanChurchAid, Norwegian Church Aid, and the Government of Norway. Their support for this kind of work — training clergy, developing chaplaincy, strengthening communities — shows a deep understanding of where help is truly needed. It is not only about humanitarian aid. It is about people who know how to support others in the most difficult moments of life. And that is critically important.”

The project “Clergy and Communities Supporting Mental Health: Innovative Practices for Wartime Support 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 and Lviv Orthodox Theological Academies.