"It Is Impossible to Unite People Without Experience and the Right Tools" — Father Oleksandr on Leadership and Ministry During Wartime

Father Oleksandr Volyanyuk is the rector of Holy Trinity Church in the village of Ivanychi, Kostopil Deanery of the Rivne Diocese. Raised by parents who were both teachers, he developed a love of learning from an early age.

"I wanted to become a priest from a young age. Starting in the sixth grade, I served in the church and observed priests who dedicated their lives to serving God and people. I wanted to follow that path. However, my first profession was teaching, and only later did I realize that I felt a stronger calling to ministry," Father Oleksandr says.

He learned about the Leadership and Spiritual Ministry During Wartime training from his colleague, Father Ivan Zhuk. As a relatively new priest, he says he did not hesitate to participate.

"It is always valuable to learn and acquire new knowledge that helps you grow — both personally and as a leader of your community."

Today, Father Oleksandr's parish community, like many others across Ukraine, lives with the realities of war. Some parishioners are waiting for their loved ones to return from military service; others are grieving family members who have been killed or remain missing.

"There is a certain division and pain within communities today. It is extremely important to learn how to unite people and help them live through these experiences while remaining close to God," he explains.

One of the key lessons Father Oleksandr took away from the training was the importance of practical leadership tools.

"It is impossible to unite people if you do not have sufficient experience and the necessary tools. During these two days, we were given exactly those tools."

According to him, it is never too late to learn something new and apply that knowledge, even if you have never done so before.

"The clergy have traditionally been among the most trusted members of society. We must not lose that trust — we must strengthen it. We should not be afraid to take risks when it helps people, especially their souls. Priests must adapt to the realities of war and find answers to the challenges people face today," Father Oleksandr emphasizes.

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 and Lviv Orthodox Theological Academies.