The Priest’s Wife Shares Why Her Calling Is More Than Just a Headscarf and Silence
Iryna Bilska, wife of Father Oleksandr from Beryslav, refutes stereotypes about the life of a priest’s wife by her own example, saying that her calling is not merely an outward appearance in a headscarf and silence, but active service and support in ministering to the Church and its people.
She shared this in an interview with the Information Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
According to Mrs. Iryna, in southern Ukraine there is still a prevailing belief that a priest’s wife should always wear a headscarf, be inconspicuous, and remain silent.
“There is a stereotype that a priest’s wife should not stand out, should wear a headscarf, and should always remain silent. For me, however, it is first and foremost a calling to support my husband and serve alongside him,” she notes.
Iryna emphasizes that being a priest’s wife does not mean “standing aside,” but sharing responsibility and service. For her, this has meant developing active social ministry in a community that has endured occupation and the daily challenges of war.
Together with her husband and a team of like-minded people, she organized a charity kitchen called Five Loaves and Two Fish, as well as a social hub, children’s spaces, mobile services, and relief campaigns. During the war alone, they have distributed more than 90,000 free meals, launched a charity taxi service, set up clothing banks for those in need, and provided psychological support.
“Being a priest’s wife means, above all, knowing how to support, understand, and act. It means being there for your husband and the parish in times of joy and in times of trial. A priest’s wife must be aware of all that is going on, because you never know what parishioners will ask. They expect support, help, and comfort from you,” Mrs. Iryna emphasizes.
The UGCC Department for Information
