Primate of OCU to US chaplain of 7th Army: our Church will always support defenders of Homeland

Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine met with the chaplain of the 7th Army of the United States in Europe, Timothy Mallard. This is reported by the website of the OCU.

Metropolitan Epifaniy noted the role of St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in the Revolution of Dignity and assured his counterpart that the Ukrainian Church had spiritually supported and would continue to support the defenders of Homeland.

“Beginning from the Maidan [events of 2013-14] and up to date, the Church has taken and will further take spiritual care of our Ukrainian army. We have been fighting an aggressor for the past five years in the East of Ukraine. And the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is represented more than the other churches in the Ukrainian army through chaplains,” the Primate said.

Timothy Mallard said that chaplains would be more effective in Ukraine if state support was provided.

“The stage at which the Ukrainian chaplaincy is now in Ukraine requires state by-laws and state responsibility in order for it to become an entity,” said Mr. Mallard.

During the meeting, the participants also discussed what we have in common and what is different in the history of chaplaincy development in Ukraine and the United States.

At the end, the participants exchanged memorable gifts.