Sofia Kochmar

Sofia Kochmar

Articles by Sofia Kochmar

Distribution of Holy Communion at an Orthodox Divine Liturgy in Ukraine. Photo courtesy of Oleksandr Drabinko.

Catholic and Orthodox Churches in Ukraine consider how to distribute Communion

Mar 13, 2020 / 16:10 pm

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted discussions in Ukraine over whether precautions should be taken related to the reception of Holy Communion, especially as many in the country attend Churches where it is distributed from a common chalice and spoon.

The funeral of Taras Brus, a Ukrainian serviceman who died in Ilovaisk, Donetsk Oblast, in the summer of 2014. Sofia Kochmar.

The war in Ukraine: a failure to evangelize?

Feb 24, 2015 / 17:34 pm

Conflict in eastern Ukraine which began in April 2014 has pitted the country's government against separatists widely believed to be backed by Russia, and some are attributing the chaos to a failed evangelization in the country.

Protestors were able to take refuge and pray for peace in tent-chapels at Maidan in Kyiv. Jakub Szymczuk/GOSC NIEDZIELNY. Courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need.

The life of minorities in Ukraine, one year after protests began

Nov 21, 2014 / 04:01 am

One year ago, Mustafa Nayyem, a Ukrainian journalist born in Afghanistan,  began Euromaidan from his post on Facebook: "Let us be serious. Who is ready to come to The Independence Square today before midnight? Likes are not considered, only the comment, 'I am ready'.”

Fr. Bohdan Kosteskiy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church ministers to the faithful in Crimea, October 2014. Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Faith in the time of annexation: A tough choice for Crimea's Church

Nov 4, 2014 / 04:01 am

Since Russia's annexation of Crimea in March, religious groups there – aside from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) – are facing persecution, and restrictions on their ministry.

A soldier is baptized by a Ukrainian Catholic military chaplain. Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Military chaplains: God in the trenches of Ukraine

Sep 25, 2014 / 03:05 am

Since April, Ukraine’s eastern provinces have experienced continual military confrontation between its government, and pro-Russian separatists and Russian forces, and more than 3,200 have been killed in the conflict.  

Onufriy, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) was elected to his post Aug. 13, 2014. Maksym Brusnika.

New Ukrainian Orthodox head to face questions of independence

Aug 19, 2014 / 03:02 am

The newly elected head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate must decide whether that Church can be independent from Russia, Ukraine's eastern neighbor with which it is in conflict, analysts say.

Fr. Pawel Vitka, who was kidnapped by separatists in Donetsk May 27 and released the following day. Courtesy of credo-ua.org.

Abducted Catholic priest released in Ukraine amid unrest

May 30, 2014 / 11:32 am

In the midst of ongoing fighting in eastern Ukraine, a Roman Catholic priest from Poland who was kidnapped May 27 by separatists in the city of Donetsk has been released.

Fr. Mykola Kvych, naval chaplain in Sevastopol, blesses Easter baskets in 2013. UGCC Information Department.

Ukrainian Catholics experiencing 'total persecution' in Crimea

Mar 18, 2014 / 15:10 pm

As the Russian president signed a bill to annex Crimea Tuesday, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the peninsula has been experiencing what a Church official calls “total persecution.”

A Divine Liturgy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church celebrated during protests in Kyiv earlier this month. Jakub Szymczuk/GOSC NIEDZIELNY. Courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need.

Ukrainian Catholic Church sees growth in south of country

Feb 27, 2014 / 12:21 pm

A new diocese of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has been established in southern Ukraine, following a decision to divide the former Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Odesa-Krym in two.