Seven New Basilian Priests Ordained in Ukraine

On July 19, 2026, seven Basilian deacons were ordained to the priesthood during a solemn Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Basilian Monastery in Bryukhovychi.

Ordained were Fr. Vitaliy Pavlyuk, OSBM; Fr. Markiyan Korol, OSBM; Fr. Yoakym Luhovyy, OSBM; Fr. Teodor Havryshchuk, OSBM; Fr. Serafym Boyuk, OSBM; Fr. Davyd Saban, OSBM; and Fr. Tadey Dankevych, OSBM. All are graduates of the Metropolitan Joseph Velamyn Rutskyy Basilian Institute of Philosophy and Theology.

The ordination was conferred by Bishop Paul Chomnyckyy, OSBM, Bishop of the Stamford Eparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

The celebration was attended by Fr. Yosyf Kalka, OSBM, Provincial Superior of the Province of the Most Holy Savior in Ukraine; Fr. Frantsysk Onysko, OSBM, Provincial Superior of the Province of St. Nicholas in Ukraine; Fr. Artemiy Novitskyy, OSBM, Rector of the Basilian Institute; Basilian priests from various monasteries, candidates and novices from Krekhiv Monastery, along with family members, friends, and many faithful.

Reflecting on Matthew 9:27–35, Bishop Paul reminded the newly ordained priests that the priesthood is, above all, a pastoral ministry. «A priest is not an administrator, not a bureaucrat, nor merely someone who performs religious ceremonies. Above all, a priest is a shepherd». He encouraged the new priests not only to care for those already active in the Church but also to seek out those who have drifted away, become discouraged, or doubt God’s mercy. «To be present, to walk beside people, and to become a living sign that God has not abandoned humanity – this is the vocation of every priest».

On July 20, the seven newly ordained priests celebrated their First (Prima) Divine Liturgy, giving thanks to God for the gift of the priesthood. The liturgy was celebrated in the seminary church with the faculty and senior Basilian Fathers. Fr. Serafym Boyuk, OSBM, served as the principal celebrant, while Fr. Tadey Dankevych, OSBM, delivered the homily. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the new priests imparted their first priestly blessing to all who were present.