The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Establishes Medical Chaplain Day in Ukraine
On July 1, the feast day of Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Holy Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church will observe Medical Chaplain Day. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, established this day by a separate decree, in accordance with the decision of the Hierarchical Synod of the UGCC in Ukraine, which took place on May 12–13, 2026, in Truskavets.
In the decree, the Primate emphasized the special mission of medical chaplains in times of war: “In the cruel times of war, the ministry of those who stand alongside doctors in the face of human suffering, bringing the word of God’s eternal Gospel, takes on special significance, strengthening faith, affirming hope, and filling hearts with love.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav also outlined the scope of their ministry: “Medical chaplains, fulfilling their noble calling, carry out a sacrificial mission in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, hospices, and other places of care and recovery, offering prayerful support to the sick, the wounded, healthcare workers, and family members of those experiencing suffering, fear, and uncertainty.”
“Their ministry is a sign of the Church’s living presence amid human suffering and a witness to God’s love, which heals the soul and strengthens the heart,” the Primate emphasized.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav called on all the faithful to pray for medical chaplains and to show them respect and support. “May the all-merciful Lord, the Healer of our souls and bodies, bless all medical chaplains, grant them strength of spirit, endurance, wisdom, and abundant grace for their ministry, and to all the sick and suffering—peace, comfort, and healing,” the Father and Head of the UGCC added in conclusion.
As Sister Yustyna Holubets, head of the UGCC Commission on Pastoral Health Care, explained to the UGCC Information Department, the establishment of this day is intended to highlight the importance of the ministry of medical chaplains and to link it to the example of Saints Cosmas and Damian.
“A medical chaplain follows the example of Saints Cosmas and Damian, reaching out to those who suffer and remaining close when there is despair, pain, illness, or loneliness,” she noted.
Sister Yustyna emphasized that in the tradition of the UGCC, Saints Cosmas and Damian have always been especially venerated. Churches and chapels were built in their honor as a sign of gratitude for recovery and healing. At the same time, it is especially meaningful for the UGCC Commission on Pastoral Health Care that it preserves the relics of the Holy Unmercenaries, gifted by His Beatitude Sviatoslav last year.
“A medical chaplain is commissioned by the Church to continue the ministry of mercy that Christ himself showed us,” she added.
According to the head of the commission, the ministry of medical chaplains is now especially important not only for patients, but also for healthcare workers and the families of the sick.
“Our people truly need God’s word, as well as an exemplary ministry. A medical chaplain should embody a merciful Church that serves, a Church that is present for them,” Sister Yustyna emphasized.
She also noted that medical chaplaincy in Ukraine continues to develop. In particular, thanks to the Clinical Pastoral Care program, chaplains have the opportunity to obtain state certification and officially minister in healthcare facilities.
The UGCC Department for Information
