UOC priests help medics evacuate wounded from front line

A group of priests-volunteers of the UOC participated for a fortnight in the work of the volunteer medical corps, which is engaged in the evacuation of the wounded from the front line, reports the rector of the Resurrection (Afghan) temple of the UOC, the first Vice-Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary Archpriest Sergiy Yushchyk on his Facebook page.

The clerics' volunteer mission trip was preceded by tactical medicine courses and training.

"A fortnight of interesting experience of living near the front, medical duty, fast driving on frontline roads, group classes on first aid skills under fire," Father Sergiy wrote. “Also, a fortnight of friendship, communication, exchange of theoretical and practical experience."

The priests also delivered medicines to the hospital in the town of Izium and humanitarian aid to military medics from different brigades from the Hetman Petro Kalnyshevsky Foundation for the Support of Defenders of Ukraine.

"Our volunteer trip was not without meeting the most active priests of Volyn diocese - Archimandrite Ilia (Vishnevsky), Priest Pavlo Chamakhud, Hieromonk Kirill (Vydrich), Archpriest Stepan Yarema, who delivered both humanitarian supplies for hospitals and medical centres on the front line and tasty gifts from relatives for the soldiers-parishioners," said Fr Sergiy.

While in the frontline zone, the first Vice-Rector of the KDAiS gave a lecture to the students of the Academy via video link.

The priest urged the faithful to pray and volunteer to help the Ukrainian soldiers.

"Do not forget those thanks to whom civilian life continues," wrote Fr. Sergiy.

As reported, the head of the UOC Synodal Department on interaction with the AFU, Metropolitan Augustine, led a spiritual and humanitarian mission, which included UOC priests and volunteers of the Petro Kalnyshevsky Foundation for the Support of Ukraine’s Defenders, who visited frontline military units.