The training of Ukrainian military chaplains in the UK
Ukrainian military chaplains have been training with the U.K armed forces chaplains
As part of Operation Orbital and then Operation Interflux, Ukrainian military chaplains have been training with the U.K armed forces chaplains in order to help them improve their chaplaincy skill as they serve the Ukrainian armed forces in their battles against Russia.
In 2023 Ukrainian chaplains took part in a 2-week training exercise based near Warminster. They received training in all aspects of chaplaincy and discussed spiritual support and the necessity of giving moral guidance and leadership to troops and commanders. Ukrainian commanders welcome the chaplains and consider them an essential part of the team “Chaplains are considered a critical capability by their commanders “ (General staff of the army of Ukraine).
This year in May a group of Ukrainian chaplains have visited the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre at the Defence Academy, Shrivenham for a similar course and once again considered how best to promote the spiritual moral and mental health of their men and women. This year’s group presented to Beckett House a beautiful Icon which takes pride of place.
Beckett house is at the cutting edge of military chaplaincy training
The chaplaincy centre at Beckett house is at the cutting edge of military chaplaincy training, with instructors form the Army, Navy and, RAF building on long established traditions to establish modern methods of competency and professionalism in the Chaplains’ Departments.
A Ukrainian chaplain spoke by Zoom in June of this year to an academic conference Beckett House. He explained that the military chaplains have not yet got up to strength. There is a requirement for 800 chaplains and at the moment there are 280. This is because the chaplains were banned from the army under Communist rule, and also there are not enough priests to go around in the civilian population. There are 12 denominations represented in the chaplaincy, the main denominations are the Ukrainian Orthodox church and the Ukrainian Roman Catholic church, but large efforts are being made to recruit chaplains from the Protestant churches.
Wounded chaplains and two fatal injuries
In addition to their battlefield duties the chaplains meet the spiritual and practical needs of the families and conduct religious education with the troops and families. There have been many wounded chaplains and two fatal injuries.
The Right Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski is the Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. Last year he conducted a field service blessing Ukrainian troops before they returned to Ukraine after training with the UK forces.
It is probable for as long as the war continues, there will be strong links between Ukrainian chaplains and the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre.
About The Author - Dr Linda Parker
After teaching History for twenty or so years Linda decided to change course and enjoyed studied for her PhD at Birmingham University. She is now an independent scholar and author. Her main writing focus is on army chaplaincy in both world wars, and her main historical interests lie in 20th century military, social and religious history but she also has a keen interest in the history of polar exploration.
Linda is a co-founder of the British Modern Military History Society and is a member of the Royal Historical Society, the Western Front Association, the American Commission for Military History and the Society for Military History. She is a trustee of the Toc H movement and convenor of Toc H Wessex.
