“Being a Friend and Not Being Ashamed of Faith”: Fr. Markiyan Bunyak on Working with Youth in the Donetsk Exarchate
The Donetsk Exarchate of the UGCC is deeply committed to the pastoral care of young people. Fr. Markiyan Bunyak, chairman of the Commission on Youth Affairs, has been sharing his life experiences with teenagers and young Christians for several years, supporting them through war, challenges, and periods of searching.
“I have a real friendship with them,” Fr. Markiyan said in an interview with the UGCC Information Department, reflecting on the heart of youth ministry.
“I see an enormous need among young people for genuine human relationships, for real friendship. That’s what COVID—and later, the war—took away from them. Everything was moved online, into social media and video games,” he explained.
Friendship and simple communication, rather than formal events, became the foundation of Fr. Markiyan’s work. He recalls how some young people added him to Discord and taught him to play Minecraft, where they had built a virtual church. “They wanted to show it to me. It was amazing for them that I actually joined, looked at their map, and played with them. That’s where the friendship began,” the priest shared.
The Commission on Youth Affairs of the Donetsk Exarchate organizes spiritual camps that include Divine Liturgy, the Rosary, and prayer of praise. “It’s on this emotional level that a first relationship with God often begins. After these camps, we hold youth meetings every Sunday. The youth have come to see that believing in God isn’t boring—it’s something new, fresh, and inspiring,” Fr. Markiyan said.
According to him, young people have a deep longing for faith and spirituality, especially in times of war, when many deep questions arise. “Being a friend, never being ashamed of your faith, speaking honestly and not being afraid that young people won’t understand you—that, in my opinion, is the essence of this work.”
The UGCC Department for Information
