A 25-year-old military chaplain, Father Vasyl Smetaniuk from Ivano-Frankivsk region, together with his brothers, took part in the liberation of Kharkiv region. Now he is fighting in the south of the country. He told Suspilne about how he became a military priest and what challenges he tackles every day on the front lines.
Father Vasyl Smetaniuk was born in the village of Sloboda, Kolomyia District. After graduating from the Ivano-Frankivsk Theological Seminary, he was a pastor in the parish of Peter and Paul in the village of Kniazhdvir. From the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he went to the front as a volunteer, later joining the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a chaplain with the 77th Battalion of Territorial Defense Forces.
“In the army, I received a call sign Father Simon”
— I decided to become a military chaplain while still in seminary. Even then, I was one of the organizers of the “Center for Pastoral Care with Law Enforcement” fraternity, where those who decided to become chaplains united.
With the beginning of the great war, I confirmed my decision to combine service to God with service to the Motherland. Just at that time, there was a need to take the place of a military chaplain in the 77th Battalion of Territorial Defense Forces, to which I agreed.
In the army, I received a call sign Father Simon. In the New Testament, he is mentioned as the one who helped Christ carry the cross to Calvary.
My service with the army is a special kind of pastoral ministry. In war, people see death every day, feel danger, fear, and therefore especially need God’s protection and support. The priest helps the soldiers with this.
“Each chaplain is still looking for his place in such a complex organization as a military unit”
– I could never have imagined that I would celebrate Christmas in a border village of Kharkiv region, from where the Russian invaders had just been driven out. The de-occupied villages look bad. The enemy has brought calamities to our land, which, by the will of God, will surely return to him. I had to travel a lot — I visited soldiers at their positions. And every time with my arrival there was an uplifting mood and some kind of celebration.
There is a saying: “There are no atheists in war.” And it’s true. In a moment of special danger, everyone turns to God.
At that time, the role of the priest in the army was not yet fully defined. After all, we had no experience of such a difficult war before. Therefore, each chaplain is still looking for his place in such a complex organization as a military unit. In my opinion, the traditions and principles of military chaplaincy are being formed right now.
The most difficult thing in this mission is the death of my comrades-in-arms. They are not only my parishioners as in peacetime. These are brothers with whom I live in the same positions, sleep in dugouts, and share food.
“As a chaplain, I must constantly be a role model for soldiers – in life, on duty, and in everyday life”
– According to the Statute, a military chaplain should not wield a weapon, but I was issued a rifle, taking into account the danger associated with our location. I do not have an assistant, although this is provided for by the Statute.
As a chaplain, I must be a role model for my brothers – in life, on duty, and in everyday life. I can’t afford anything that would harm authority. In addition to serving the Lord, the chaplain must also be an assistant and a support to the commander.
In addition to courage, the priest must be wise, strong in spirit and faith to maintain this also among his brothers in arms and cross. He should also be a friend to every soldier.
When our unit is in battle, I pray. I ask God that the battle will not be difficult, and I beg to save the lives of our soldiers.
“A Greek Catholic priest for the local population is “big news,” of course
— The local population treats me, I would say, with curiosity. Most of them are seeing a military chaplain for the first time, let alone a Catholic one. The latter arouses increased interest, because, well, the influence of the Russian Church in the eastern and southern lands of Ukraine was real. A Greek Catholic priest is, of course, “big news” for the local population. Everyone has one question: “When will the war end?” People rightly believe that God knows this. But even we, his servants, don’t know this.
Once I had to baptize a child of local residents in a de-occupied village in which there was no church. The fighters of our unit became godfathers as none of the locals agreed. By the way, the soldiers of our unit did not have to be baptized – all our fighters are from Western Ukraine.
“I have many proofs that God protects us”
— Belief in God is important in war. I have many proofs that God protects us. One of them was when I consecrated a military vehicle. And soon the soldiers told me that a Russian projectile exploded next to the car. The car was not damaged by any debris.
Another thing that happened to me… Returning from chaplaincy courses to Vovchansk at night, in the fog, I was very tired and lost my way. I felt I was in a real threat- it seemed to me that I had driven into enemy territory. We have had such cases before. I would face death or capture.
I considered whether to burn the documents, leave the car behind, hide in the forest, and make my way to my family that day.
But, after praying, I decided to move to the nearest forest. And then I bumped into our roadblock. Ukrainian soldiers manned it. They were like savior angels for me.
“God is with us because our efforts are sacred”
— With my relatives, I try not to touch on the subject of the war. In a conversation with my wife Olia, I ask her about things at home, something extraneous. I understand that it is difficult for them, too.
Now I often repeat the phrase: “Victory will be ours!” And I sincerely believe and know that God is with us because our efforts are sacred!
I will celebrate the victory, without a doubt, in a prayer of gratitude to God for the victory and for a happy future for all of us and for Ukraine. And also, I will remember all the Ukrainians who died in this war.
