Not Just “Pray”: How Ukrainian Priests Are Learning to Support Communities During War

There are priests who are the last to leave their villages — after the state has already withdrawn. Some remain under occupation with their parishioners. Others travel to frontline communities in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions simply to be with their people. Today, priests are not only spiritual mentors — they are often the first line of psychological support, and sometimes the only human connection where no one else remains. To help them fulfill this role more effectively, the NGO “Eleos-Ukraine,” together with DanChurchAid and Norwegian Church Aid in Ukraine, and with support from the Government of Norway (NORAD), launched the project “Clergy and Communities in Support of Mental Health: Innovative Support Practices During the War in Ukraine.”

From February to August, clergy, seminarians, their spouses, and those working alongside them can attend training in Kyiv and Lviv to develop skills in psychological first aid, palliative care, trauma and PTSD response, self-help, and leadership.

“Every priest is already a leader in their community. They often provide guidance intuitively, similar to a psychologist. The goal of this project is to help them do so more professionally,” says Serhiy Dmytriyev, a priest of the OCU, military chaplain, and Chairman of the Board of “Eleos-Ukraine.”

He adds: “Today, simply telling someone to ‘fast, pray, and repent’ is no longer enough. People are educated, traumatized, and deeply affected by war. A priest must speak to them as equals — and know how to provide professional support.”

The training is open not only to priests, but also to their spouses, social workers, and others who face the daily consequences of war in their communities.

“For me, this training is extremely valuable because it shows how to work with people during wartime. We practiced exercises that I can already apply — for myself and for others — not only at work, but also at home,” says Halyna Monastyretska, a social worker at the St. Olga Rehabilitation Center in Ivano-Frankivsk region.

The project’s partner, the international organization DCA-NCA, intentionally selected this educational focus for working with clergy.

“We believe this program is highly relevant, as priests face many challenges experienced by their parishioners. We want to support them with new knowledge and opportunities. I am confident that the skills gained will help both clergy and communities respond to current challenges more effectively. So far, we have received only positive feedback, which shows we are on the right track,” said Serhiy Kalinin, Senior Protection Officer of DCA-NCA in Ukraine.

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.