Media: Many chaplains serve in parishes, not on the front lines

Chaplain R. Hryshchuk remains stationed in Bukovyna. Photo: Suspilne

According to an investigative report by Glavcom, many military chaplains affiliated with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church–Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) are combining their official military service with parish ministry – while collecting full military salaries.

A clergyman of the UOC-KP told reporters that several priests he knows “are officially registered as chaplains, yet still conduct services in their home parishes once a week, with permission from military unit commanders.”

Glavcom cites data from the job portal Work.ua, which lists over 50 vacancies for chaplains. According to the ads, monthly salaries can exceed 100,000 UAH. The current system reportedly allows priests to negotiate “flexible” service arrangements with their military superiors.

“The armed forces are looking for chaplains with at least one year of pastoral experience and higher theological education. There’s also a strict requirement across the board: applicants must have no ties to religious organizations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church,” Glavcom notes.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to a UGCC cleric, many priests are reluctant to serve as chaplains on the front lines.

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