Father Volodymyr Cheslavskyi: A Veteran Priest from Kyiv on Military Service, Combat Injuries, and the Scientific View of Spirituality

Father Volodymyr Cheslavsky is a Kyiv native, a military veteran, and a priest. His family history combines both military service and religious ministry: on one side stands General-Cornet Vasyl Cheslavsky, and on the other, generations of Orthodox priests.

"Somehow it all came together," he says with a smile. "The stars aligned."

Father Volodymyr's first calling was military service. During the war, he was wounded. Shortly before that, he had been ordained as a priest. For him, these two vocations do not conflict — they complement one another.

Today, he serves a parish in Kyiv, where many of those seeking pastoral support are women carrying deep emotional wounds.

"Many come burdened by painful divorces, difficult relationships, or life's hardships. Unresolved pain often spills over onto their children," he says. "In every conversation, I remind them that God is love. If a relationship has failed, don't pass that pain on to your children. Don't let them repeat your story."

Seeing Spiritual Care Through the Lens of Science

Father Volodymyr learned about the training through fellow priests, who encouraged him to attend. He arrived with no particular expectations — and left genuinely impressed.

"I've attended many training programs over the years. They were all different, and each had its value. But this one stood out because it helped us look at spiritual care through the lens of science. We explored how psychology can strengthen pastoral ministry and help priests better support the people they serve."

The Value of Dialogue

For Father Volodymyr, the greatest strength of the training was its format.

"It wasn't a lecture — it was a dialogue. A dialogue gives you the opportunity to reflect, ask questions, and think critically rather than simply accepting everything at face value. That's especially important for people who work with others every day and rarely have the chance to step back and reflect on their own practice."

He also believes that knowledge has little value unless it is put into practice.

"Knowledge that isn't applied is quickly forgotten. But when we use it in real life, it becomes an experience. And that experience enriches both our ministry and our everyday lives."

"Only the Dead Stop Learning"

Father Volodymyr has a simple message for seminarians and fellow clergy who are considering similar training programs: "Only the dead stop learning. Even our grandparents learn how to use smartphones when they get one. Believing that you already know everything is the first step toward standing still and, eventually, falling behind. That's why it's so important not to isolate yourself within your own circle. People came here from all across Ukraine, bringing different perspectives and rich practical experience. That exchange is one of the most valuable parts of the training."

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.