As the brutal war in Ukraine enters its third year after the Russian military invaded the eastern European country in February 2022, and with most analysts and commentators focusing on its broader geopolitical impact on the global chessboard in their analyses, an often-overlooked subject deserving a closer look is the psychological trauma that combat soldiers experience.
In their need to find some peace and tranquility from the harsh reality of the war front, 22 Ukrainian soldiers arrived for a pilgrimage and solace to Mount Athos, seeking refuge on Orthodoxy’s “holy mountain” in northern Greece, Mount Athos, the eastern-most of Halkidiki prefecture’s promontories.
In the hope of escaping the harrowing memories of the battlefield and their desire for psychological healing and spiritual contemplation, the soldiers journeyed for more than 1,000 kilometers by bus from Lviv, in western Ukraine, to the semi-autonomous monastic community.
According to a Reuters report, during their four-day stay, the soldiers—some bearing visible scars of war, including amputated limbs and head injuries—visited and paid homage at 12 monasteries. Their visit to Mount Athos – the monastic epicenter of Eastern Orthodoxy – was part of a psychological support program organized by Ukrainian authorities, aiming to provide relief and a path to healing for those affected by the trauma of war.
“Many soldiers are suffering from the events of the past three years. Many of them are afflicted with various ailments—they are wounded and need rehabilitation,” said Fr. Mykhailo Pasirskyi, a Ukrainian Orthodox priest who accompanied the men on their journey.
Among the soldiers was 22-year-old Ivan Kovalyk, who lost both legs while serving on the front lines until September 2023. “Of course, it helped a lot because it allowed me to relieve stress,” he said about his visit to Mount Athos, a place he plans to return to.
Orest Kavetskyi, a regional official from Lviv who assisted in organizing the trip, shared a similar sentiment. “When I visited Mount Athos, I felt the grace of God, the blessing of God, the greatness of it,” he remarked, highlighting the spiritual and emotional significance of the experience for those involved.
