The Exarch of Donetsk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Visits Croatia and Speaks of Life in Frontline Parishes
Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, Exarch of Donetsk, together with the head of the Commission on Youth Affairs of the Donetsk Exarchate, Fr. Markiyan Bunyak, paid a visit to the Republic of Croatia. During the trip, they visited the city of Vukovar and the Archdiocese of Ðakovo-Osijek, where they spoke about the life of the frontline parishes of the Donetsk Exarchate amid the Russian-Ukrainian war. The bishop was accompanied by the local parish priest in Rajevu Selu, Fr. Oleh Zakalyuk.
During a meeting with Metropolitan Džuro Hranić of the Archdiocese of Ðakovo-Osijek and Auxiliary Bishop Ivan Ćurić, Bishop Maksym spoke about life and pastoral ministry in the Donetsk Exarchate, which covers the Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhia regions. He emphasized that, as a result of Russian aggression, a significant part of the exarchate’s parishes are located near the front lines, and the clergy and faithful remain under threat of shelling every day.
The exarch also noted that many churches and parishes have been destroyed, closed, or are located in temporarily occupied territories, and the priests and laypeople who remain there live in constant danger. Despite the difficult circumstances, Bishop Maksym continues to visit the communities of the Donetsk Exarchate in person, often traveling under conditions of constant danger. For this, the faithful call him “the bishop on wheels.”
Archbishop Đuro Hranić, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Ðakovo-Osijek, its clergy, consecrated persons, and laity, as well as Auxiliary Bishop Ivan Ćurić, expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, spiritual closeness, and assured them of prayerful support.
During the visit, the guests were also given a tour of the archdiocese’s administrative offices and introduced to the history and contemporary life of the metropolia.
A separate part of the trip included a visit to Vukovar, one of the symbols of Croatia’s war for independence. During the Yugoslav Wars, the siege of the city lasted 87 days and became one of the largest military operations of that period. After the fall of the city, mass killings of civilians took place, and Vukovar was almost completely destroyed.
Today, the city is an important industrial and cultural center of eastern Croatia and a place of remembrance of the tragedy and resistance.
During their stay in Vukovar, Bishop Maksym Ryabukha and Fr. Markiyan Bunyak visited memorial sites and a military cemetery.
“Vukovar is a city very close to the historical events that the Donetsk Exarchate is currently enduring. What we saw here is a living memory of endurance and the struggle for independence, dignity, and the value of human life. This trip was a truly valuable and moving experience for us. We witnessed what Ukrainians are going through today, but at the same time we had the opportunity to see the history of endurance, resilience, and restoration of the Croatian city,” said Bishop Maksym.
The UGCC Department for Information
