—What has been particularly challenging for you in priestly service, and what brings you the most joy?
—The most challenging aspect was realizing that before ordination, I was responsible only for my own soul. But as a priest and shepherd, I now bear responsibility for the souls of all the people entrusted to me. This realization prompts much reflection and a deeper turning to God for help.
At the same time, what brings the greatest joy is witnessing the transformation of people’s souls. When someone returns to God, overcomes their sins, or experiences spiritual renewal through the sacraments and pastoral guidance, it brings deep, inexplicable joy. This is especially evident during confession, Communion, or the moments when people share their spiritual growth. It’s a humbling reminder of the grace of God working through a priest’s ministry.
The greatest joy for me in the priesthood has been serving the Divine Liturgy and regularly partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Equally uplifting is the realization that if you’ve become a priest, it means that God has chosen you—a sinner—for this high service. This sense of being chosen fills me with awe. I also rejoice that, through the Church, I’ve found many like-minded people and friends, something I hadn’t found elsewhere. Moreover, it brings me joy to know that some of the greatest and most authoritative figures in the history of the Universal Church chose the priestly ministry. Feeling a connection to this legacy is an indescribable experience!
—What does a priest’s day look like in a city parish? What does it include?
—A priest’s day includes performing evening and morning services, culminating in the Divine Liturgy. In our cathedral, services are held daily. Before each service, I prepare through prayer, which includes canons, sometimes akathists, and the pre-Communion prayers. This prayerful preparation takes two to three hours.
The service begins in the evening and lasts about an hour and a half, sometimes longer. In the morning, I return to serve the Liturgy. Often, I also hear confessions before Communion and then lead a moleben (a prayer service)—sometimes with an akathist and water blessing, sometimes without. The moleben is typically dedicated to a saint or feast celebrated that day. Each day also includes commemorations for the departed, with a panikhida (memorial service).
On top of these duties, the Sacraments of Baptism or funerals for the departed may also be performed.
Beyond services, people often come to the priest—some are longtime church members, while others may be visiting for the first or second time. They come with questions, seeking advice or blessings. If time allows, I might spend an hour or more talking to someone. Everyone has their own questions and problems. You try to encourage and console them as best you can.
A crucial aspect of pastoral ministry, aside from the services, is caring for people. You hope and pray that God will grant you the words the person before you needs most. Amazingly, you often find that this is exactly what happens.
Priests are also called to visit those who cannot come to church—usually the sick—who also need spiritual guidance. Some invite priests to bless their homes, which is another important pastoral duty.
—Priests must have a heavy workload, especially during the fasting seasons when many come for confession. How do you find the strength to listen to everyone, give advice, and show compassion? How do you recover from emotional overload?
—I’ve partially answered this above. Yes, the workload is significant, and like anyone else, priests can grow physically and emotionally tired. I’d even say that few people face the emotional and psychological strain that priests do.
When I first began my ministry, I worried deeply: Would I have enough strength? I knew from my reading that a priest is merely a mediator between the repentant soul and God. But understanding this through experience came with time.
I learned that if you serve faithfully, rely on God, and see yourself as merely His servant—not relying on your own strength—God gives you the words people need to hear. You begin to trust this and observe that it happens consistently. Even after a long day, despite exhaustion, you somehow don’t feel the fatigue and instead experience an inner joy. To me, this is a true miracle.
That said, priests are still human and need rest and physical recovery. There’s no avoiding that.
—Have you encountered miracles in your pastoral ministry?
—If I were to recount the miracles I’ve witnessed, some might dismiss them as ordinary events. But I am convinced that for a believer, miracles happen constantly. One just needs to recognize them in their life and thank God for everything.
Looking back, I see that all the events in my life—both sorrowful and joyful—have unfolded in miraculous ways. My life has been fairly typical. For example, after high school, I planned to attend university, but I missed the chance to prepare properly and failed my entrance exams. As a result, I was drafted into the army. But it was in the army that I came to genuine faith.
This led me to an entirely unexpected choice: pursuing theological education and becoming a priest. More than that, it was during my theological studies that I met my future wife, and we built a family together. Tell me, isn’t that a miracle?
In pastoral ministry, miracles are evident all the time. For me, the most extraordinary miracle is the transformation of the human soul. I often encounter people who come to church for the first time, usually driven by some sorrow. Seeing how they change after a conversation, confession, or receiving Communion—this is truly a miracle!
If someone wants to hear about evident miracles, I can share one example.
I was invited to visit an elderly woman who was bedridden and not church-going. She required constant care. I administered the Sacrament of Unction and Holy Communion, explaining to her the basics of faith. A month or two later, she called me herself and asked to receive Communion again, saying that she would meet me at the entrance of her building. I thought I must have misheard.
But when I arrived, she was standing outside, waiting for me. Previously, she had been completely bedridden! She told me that after receiving the Sacraments, she had felt much better and was able to walk and care for herself.
This was in no way my doing. It was the Lord who granted her this consolation to strengthen her faith!
I’ve also noticed that when searching earnestly for an answer to an important spiritual question, opening the Scriptures often leads you to a passage that perfectly addresses your issue. To me, that is also a miracle.
Another example relates to preaching. Preparing sermons has always been a challenging task for me. My greatest anxiety was forgetting something and finding myself in an awkward situation. To avoid this, I would memorize the sermon almost word for word, which often diminished the personal touch—the part that comes from the heart.
At one festive service, our bishop, Vladyka Mark, delivered a sermon. He spoke words that deeply touched me: “You must speak from heart to heart.” And you could feel that he himself was speaking in this way. Although I had heard this phrase before, his personal example and those words made a profound impact on me. They continue to guide me in my preaching, and I consider this a small miracle.
Preparing for the Nativity of Christ
—What does preparing for the Nativity of Christ entail for a believer? During the fasting season, which Sacraments would you recommend focusing on?
—Fasting is, first and foremost, a time of repentance. While it’s fine to engage in work and other activities during the fast, we must especially learn to withdraw from busyness and excessive activity. The focus should shift to what truly matters—like family, for example.
Often, we’re so caught up in the rush of life that even when we’re with loved ones or doing something together, it can feel perfunctory. We rush around, trying to accomplish what we perceive as important tasks. But these very tasks make us insensitive, coarse, and callous, even as we reassure ourselves that this isn’t the case. We might think our outward cheerfulness is a sign of happiness, but that’s far from true.
The Holy Fathers teach that one of the primary signs of despondency is excessive busyness and preoccupation.
During the fast, it’s vital to attend church regularly and not rush to leave. Instead, take a moment to remain in the silence of the church, praying to God, the Theotokos, and the saints. Reading spiritual literature is also beneficial during this time.
The Sacraments of Confession and Communion are indispensable companions to fasting. At least once, but preferably several times during the fast, we should partake of the healing grace these Sacraments provide.
—There’s one month left before the New Year. What do you hope to accomplish during this time? What would you recommend to others in order to end the year meaningfully and without regret for wasted time?
—The word “accomplish” carries a sense of haste, and perhaps even a touch of superstition. Unfortunately, many of us associate it with rushing to tie up loose ends before the New Year. People hurry to buy gifts, decorations, clothes, food, and even alcohol, visiting countless stores and salons.
While none of this is inherently bad, the problem lies in focusing on external adornments while neglecting the adornment of the soul. The Gospel says, “For after all these things do the Gentiles seek. … Be ye not therefore like unto them” (Matt. 6:32). Let external preparations be an ordinary concern, and not one given undue importance.
I would encourage everyone to pause, reflect, thank God for the past year, and pray for help and humility in the year to come. It’s no coincidence that churches traditionally hold a thanksgiving service at the beginning of the civil New Year. Attending such a service, praying, and opening your heart to God will undoubtedly bring peace and prepare you for what lies ahead.
—What would you recommend reading or watching during the pre-Christmas season?
—The most important thing is to read the Holy Scriptures attentively—either by chapters or small passages. Reflect on what you’ve read and take it to heart. Spiritual literature is also vital.
In today’s fast-paced world, when reading lengthy books may be difficult, short sayings from the Holy Fathers can be particularly helpful. I love them myself. These wise, Spirit-filled teachings provide encouragement for a weary soul and bring peace to our hearts. Just a few lines—or even one or two—can contain immense love, hope, faith, and trust in God.
Regarding films, I can’t recommend anything specific since I don’t watch many myself. However, I enjoy movies that, in one way or another, reflect humanity's eternal and enduring values: faith, love for one’s neighbor and homeland, self-sacrifice, and similar themes. In this regard, a series of patriotic domestic films released over the past five to six years is particularly noteworthy. These films depict the lives of prominent individuals—leaders, astronauts, athletes, pilots, artists, and others—showcasing their diverse, and often tragic, life stories. The central themes these films convey are determination, strength of spirit, unyielding willpower, and the self-sacrifice of people who have entered our country’s history as remarkable personalities. I believe that, in addition to spiritual films, it’s worth watching a truly good patriotic film, as it can also inspire deep thought and reflection.
