"Without the Right Approach, People May Turn Away from the Church": A Young Monk on the Importance of Trauma-Informed Ministry

Monk Sergiy — known before taking monastic vows as Stanislav Zhuhan — is a resident of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv. At just 23 years old, he represents a new generation of clergy preparing to serve people whose lives have been profoundly shaped by war.

His spiritual journey began when he was 17. He started attending church regularly, sought guidance from a spiritual mentor, visited monasteries, and immersed himself in the study of Scripture and spiritual literature.

At 18, he entered the monastery as a novice. Three years later, he took monastic vows.

"It was a very serious decision," he recalls. "Before becoming a monk, you have to understand whether this is truly your calling. I have never regretted my choice."

This was Sergiy's first time attending a training on "Working with Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)”.

"So many people today are carrying the wounds of war. I want to be able to help those who need support."

In his experience, people who come to the Church are often looking for something very simple.

"More than anything, they want someone who will truly listen to them — not someone who immediately starts giving advice or preaching. We need to listen, support them, and be careful not to hurt them through our words or actions."

The training reinforced something he had already begun to understand through his ministry.

"The most important lesson for me was the importance of listening. As Scripture says, 'Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.'"

When asked why clergy should receive this kind of training, Sergiy's answer is straightforward.

"We are living through a time of war. Every member of the clergy should have at least a basic understanding of psychology because every person is different. People carry different traumas, have different personalities, and respond differently to suffering."

He believes that the Church's ability to support people depends not only on faith, but also on how clergy relate to those who seek help.

"If we don't know how to approach people with understanding and sensitivity, they may turn away from the Church. We need to do the opposite — to learn, to grow, and to show people that the Church is always a place where they will find support."

Sergiy has already decided that he will attend future training sessions.

"Absolutely," he says. "I would recommend them to everyone."

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.