"To Shine for Others, You Must Not Burn Out Yourself": An Archpriest from Volyn on His Calling, Supporting Service Members, and the Importance of Training

Father Andriy Zakydalsky, an archpriest from Volyn, says he has known his calling for as long as he can remember. He credits his deeply faithful grandmother for nurturing his vocation.

"I never considered any path other than the priesthood," he says.

He came of age during a defining moment in Ukraine's history, when the country regained its independence. Quoting the Gospel, Father Andriy reflects on his vocation: "You did not choose Me, but I chose you."

He adds: "There is no greater blessing — or greater responsibility — than serving as a priest. Thanks be to God for this calling."

Since 2015, Father Andriy has worked closely with Ukraine's military. He has traveled to eastern Ukraine to minister to service members, and today he remains in regular contact with soldiers and their families.

"The people who most often come to the Church today are service members and their loved ones, asking for prayer, guidance, and support. That means every priest needs effective tools for communicating with them and responding to their needs."

Having recently completed training in medical chaplaincy, Father Andriy decided to attend the course on "Working with Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” to deepen his understanding even further.

"To gain practical tools, you first need knowledge and proper training. That's why I'm here, and I'm deeply grateful for this opportunity."

Over the course of the two-day training, Father Andriy gained not only new knowledge but also meaningful connections with fellow participants.

One message, in particular, stayed with him.

"I was reminded once again that if you want to be a light for others, you cannot allow yourself to burn out. You also have to take care of yourself."

He was equally inspired by the atmosphere of solidarity among the participants.

"You could feel everyone's sincere desire to continue serving, to support people in need, to stand beside those going through difficult circumstances, and to truly understand them."

Father Andriy believes that every member of the clergy would benefit from this type of training.

While attending the course, he immediately shared the registration link with the priests in his deanery.

"There are ten priests in our deanery. Some couldn't attend this session, but they're already planning to join the next one."

He explains why the need is so urgent.

"Every priest, sooner or later, ministers to people living with grief—wives of service members, mothers, grieving families. Even delivering the right words during the funeral of a fallen soldier requires knowledge, sensitivity, and experience. That's why this initiative is so valuable. We need more programs like this and they should be available in every region of 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 Orthodox Theological Academy and the Lviv Orthodox Theological Academy.