“A Priest Must Serve Devotedly”: Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh on Ministry in Germany and Scandinavia
The Ukrainian community in Germany and Scandinavia is rapidly growing, leading to the establishment of new pastoral centers. As Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh noted in an interview with the UGCC Information Department, approximately 40 new places of service have been created across the Apostolic Exarchate in the past three years. A key requirement for priests serving in this region is a commitment to devoted ministry, along with fluency in German.
Priests who serve in Germany and Scandinavia
Currently, the Apostolic Exarchate in Germany and Scandinavia has over 100 places of worship, and this number continues to grow. However, a major challenge remains the shortage of priests. While their number has doubled from 24 to 48 over the past three years, it is still insufficient.
Bishop Bohdan believes there are several reasons for this shortage: “It is both a matter of training and motivation. We need to understand priests’ motivations—to what extent they truly desire to serve people with devotion and sacrifice, rather than simply seeking a comfortable position for themselves and their families.”
“We also need qualified people. Since we serve within the territories of the German Church, the German bishops require that clergy speak German at a fairly high level,” he added.
He also noted that, at times, local church authorities are not open to accepting Ukrainian priests. “Regrettably, without the consent of the local Latin bishop, I cannot appoint a priest to serve Ukrainians. Such cases are not frequent, but they do occur. That is why, as I said, this issue is complex,” he explained.
Despite these challenges, the Church receives significant support from Roman Catholic bishops in Germany and Scandinavia. Many actively assist in the pastoral care of the UGCC and sometimes even help with staffing.
Today, the Exarchate encompasses 115 places of service, which function not only as spiritual centers for Ukrainians but also as hubs for humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
The UGCC Department for Information
