Chaplains of the Ukrainian military formations in Galicia (1914–1919) (based on memoirs of military chaplains)

Abstract

Based on memoirs of military chaplains, namely of the Greek-Catholic clergy,
for the period of the World War I (1914–1918) and Ukrainian-Polish War (1918–
1919), the paper analyzes army chaplaincy formation in Galicia and distinguishes
key problems the priests faced due to the military actions. It is assumed that in the
context of war priests performed not only their direct pastoral duties, but were also
engaged in medical provision, settling military and sociopolitical issues, and caring
for both militaries and civilians. As a moral shield protecting the Ukrainian military
formations, chaplains endeavored to make the military feel at home and provided
them with psychological support. Memoir and reminiscence literature also makes
it possible to observe how new challenges and new people changed the priests and
gave them experience unobtainable in peacetime.
Keywords: Greek-Catholic Church, World War I, Ukrainian-Polish War of
1918–1919, Ukrainian chaplains, reminiscences