Posts published in “Religion”

(Mount Athos, Greece) – Amid the ongoing toll of war, a group of Ukrainian soldiers has found a rare moment of peace on Greece’s Mount Athos, a spiritual haven that has offered solace for centuries. The 22 soldiers, who traveled more than 1,000 kilometers from their hometown of Lviv to the Athos peninsula, sought refuge from both the physical and emotional scars left by battle. Their visit to the sacred Greek Orthodox monasteries was part of a psychological support program organized by Ukrainian authorities.

The soldiers, some bearing visible injuries such as amputations and others quietly enduring emotional trauma, spent four days visiting the ancient monasteries. The serene setting of Mount Athos, a UNESCO World Heritage site, provided a temporary escape from the chaos of war. During their visit, the soldiers participated in religious services, took communion, and prayed for their loved ones. For many, it was a chance to reflect, find inner peace, and share their experiences with one another.

Orest Kavetskyi, a Lviv regional official who helped organize the trip, expressed the deep impact the retreat had on the soldiers. “We already see that these five days spent on Athos will replace at least a year of rehabilitation in Ukraine, in hospitals or other medical centers,” he said. This sentiment highlights the immense value the soldiers found in the spiritual respite they received, which may provide them with the strength needed for the continued recovery process.

The monasteries of Mount Athos, which have served as a center for Orthodox Christianity since the 10th century, have long been a place of retreat and reflection. The soldiers’ visit, however, was exclusive to the Greek Orthodox sites, as Mount Athos remains a male-only pilgrimage site. This distinction also reflects the support that Greece, a NATO member, has extended to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, despite the strain this has caused in relations with Moscow.

While the emotional scars of war cannot be erased overnight, the soldiers found brief moments of peace in the chapels’ thick stone walls, the incense-filled air, and the breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea. Between prayer services, they shared stories and reflected on their experiences, which served as a reminder that amid war’s devastation, hope and renewal can still be found.

The war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has already claimed tens of thousands of lives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported in December 2024 that 43,000 Ukrainian service members had been killed, with 370,000 more wounded. Despite these staggering losses, the visit to Mount Athos provided the soldiers with an opportunity to reconnect with their faith and find peace amidst the turmoil.