(Photo: Aid to the Church in Need)
The conflict-torn region of Kharkiv, Ukraine, is witnessing a profound impact on its Christian community as they grapple with the psychological scars of ongoing warfare. As the backdrop of battle fades into daily life, the silence that follows becomes a source of anxiety for many residents.
In Kharkiv, a city that bore the brunt of intense fighting during the “Battle of Kharkiv,” Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk described the constant presence of warfare. “There are permanently drones and rockets and we hear them above our heads, every day,” he shared with Aid to the Church in Need. The unsettling quietness, when it occurs, leaves people uncertain of what might come next.
Bishop Honcharuk painted a vivid picture of the day-to-day existence in a war zone: “We know we have to do everything to survive. To live, not to die.” He added, “We have so much pain in us, but we know we have to live. And this is our life. We live from one day to the other. Sometimes when we meet each other, we ask: ‘How are you?’ and the reply is just: ‘I’m still alive.’ And that is good.”
For both civilians and returning soldiers, dealing with psychological trauma is becoming a critical focus for clergy and military chaplains throughout Ukraine. The bishop noted the drastic changes in soldiers reuniting with their families, highlighting the ripple effect of trauma within households.
“When we speak about people who lost their homes or their belongings, that is also a kind of trauma, and also prisoners of war who return, they carry a different kind of trauma and pain. It’s very complex. It’s very important to listen to the people and to try to help everyone in a different way,” Bishop Honcharuk explained.
Clergy members, too, are not spared from these psychological pressures, emphasizing the importance of trauma healing in mitigating family tensions and preventing further violence and suicide. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has stepped up its support for churches in Ukraine, a gesture Bishop Honcharuk described as a “hand of God.”
Amidst the ongoing conflict, Russian assaults often target Ukraine’s power infrastructure, prompting the need for generators and other essential supplies. Additionally, vehicles have been provided to enable priests and religious sisters to reach those living in isolated locations.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
