Poetry as survival: trauma, stigma, and spiritual meaning in the case study of a Ukrainian-American poet-chaplain

The mendicant orders, particularly the Franciscans and Dominicans, have received enormous scholarly attention, virtually from their inception in 1210 and 1216, respectively, regarding a wide range of topics, but particularly their activities as preachers, teachers, advisors, and missionaries.1 Somewhat less attention has been paid to the role of the mendicants as confessors, particularly confessors to non-aristocratic or royal lay people.2 This lacuna in scholarship regarding the mendicant orders is particularly evident in the consideration of Franciscan and Dominican friars as military chaplains. This study sheds light on an important yet insufficiently appreciated aspect of mendicant pastoral activity during the first century of the Franciscan and Dominican orders.3 Background Military pastoral care, that is, the religious support provided to soldiers by priests, played an exceptionally important role in the conduct of warfare in both Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, particularly for the maintenance of morale and discipline.4 In the late Roman Empire and its western successor states, pastoral duties largely fell to bishops and a small cadre of priests who celebrated Mass, carried relics, interceded with God on behalf of the army, and preached to the troops.5 By the mid-eighth century, however, new religious practices in the West imposed on military commanders the need to recruit far larger numbers of priests to serve as chaplains in their armies. The old rite of penance, which permitted Christians to confess their sins only once in a lifetime, gradually was superseded by the practice of repeatable confession. This development in church teaching, which can be traced over a three-century period, culminated in the wide acceptance of repeatable confession as an acceptable rite.6 The establishment of this new institutionalized interpretation of confession is marked first in the British Isles and then on the continent during the late seventh and early eighth century by the extensive production and diffusion of penitential manuals, sometimes described by scholars as tariff books. These handbooks for priests, many of which were produced expressly for parish clergy, set out long lists of sins and appropriate penances for each, thereby emphasizing the renewable nature of the rite.7 It was now possible for soldiers to confess their sins before every battle and thereby face the enemy with a clear conscience and a clean soul.8 But this new military pastoral responsibility brought with it the need to recruit far larger numbers of priests to serve in the army than had been the case previously. A bishop and a few priests were sufficient in the armies of the Late Empire and early Middle Ages to celebrate Mass, preach, and even pray. To hear the confessions of thousands, or even tens of thousands of soldiers, however, was far beyond the capabilities of the few clerics attached to the armies of the fourth through the early eighth century. The necessity of recruiting far larger numbers of priests to serve as military chaplains was enunciated clearly in 742 by Carloman, the Carolingian Mayor of the Palace. At a synodal assembly, called the Concilium Germanum by scholars, Carloman, acting in concert with Boniface, the papal legate to the Frankish court, instituted the requirement that every unit commander in the army have on staff a capellanus capable of hearing confessions and assigning penances.9 From this point onward, including up the present, armies in the Christian West have recruited large numbers of priests to serve as military chaplains.10 It is one of the noteworthy aspects of medieval religious history that Carloman's leading role in the establishment of requirements for the provision of pastoral care was recapitulated throughout the early and high Middle Ages by secular rather than ecclesiastical figures. Even in periods of papal strength, the bishops of Rome remained largely silent about the need to provide soldiers with pastoral care, even in the context of the crusades. …

The armed aggression of the Russian Federation, which began in 2014, drew theattention of society and religious institutions to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and revealedproblems in the establishing and developing the institution of military chaplaincy. Thisstudy aims to assess the basics of spirituality and practice, mission and functions of chaplaincyin the Russian-Ukrainian war. It was found that according to their main credo “Beclose!”, military chaplains have become an integral part of the military teams providingspiritual and moral support for military personnel. The activity of military chaplains extendsfar beyond direct service in military units in the combat zone or their deployment inUkraine. Military chaplains became volunteers who 1) coordinate and deliver humanitarianaid to the military and civilians, 2) maintain contacts with the families of servicemen,wounded and demobilized soldiers, 3) initiate the creation of special programs of spiritualrenewal at monasteries, rehabilitation courses at church communities, social events, etc.The chaplains have shown the readiness to resist the challenges of a new phase of largescalemilitary invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation since February 2022. Thereare no analogies in contemporary history of creating an institute of military chaplaincyunder such conditions that makes the current experience of Ukrainian chaplaincy unique.

The article is devoted to the problem of realization of the constitutional right of the military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other state power formations to freedom of worldview and religion in the context of interpretation of the Law of Ukraine «On the Military Chaplaincy Service» in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war of 2014 — including The author emphasizes the return of religion as one of the most important factors of the life process to the public space, its influence as a form of spiritual and practical world on the moral and psychological state of Ukrainian soldiers, their resilience, courage, confidence in their A historical analysis of the problem of the formation of military chaplaincy, which has its roots in the era of the Ukrainian National Liberation Movement of 1917–1921, is made. The problem of the phenomenon of the implementation of the Law of Ukraine «On the Military Chaplaincy Service», which regulated church-state relations in the Armed Forces and changed their role and status in wartime, is considered. In particular, the Law does not specify such a function of chaplains as the funeral service for the dead. Other bylaws that provide for the main areas of military chaplaincy activities are also analyzed. Attention is drawn to the religious and educational work of chaplains in order to familiarize military personnel with the basics of religious outlook, ethical principles of military service and civic duty to protect the state, and to foster a spirit of patriotism, brotherhood and mutual respect among the personnel. It is proposed to launch promising areas of training for military chaplains by conducting training in special programs of new scientific specialties «Educational Chaplain», «Medical Chaplain», making appropriate changes to the Classifier of Professions DK 003: 2010, which already includes the professional positions of «Clergyman», «Military Priest (Chaplain)». It is noted that the canonical teaching of the Church sometimes comes into conflict with the brutal realities of the current Russian-Ukrainian war. This refers to the document approved by the Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople «For the Life of the World. Towards the Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church» (2020), which condemns violence, expresses views on truce and peace between the warring parties, and addresses Pope Leo XIV on achieving a true, just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia. It is concluded that against the background of sharp militarization, including the consciousness of the population, compulsory military service, falling living standards, when we have to live in the new architecture of international law, in the realities of changing approaches to human rights; military chaplains should be part of the general cultural security and defense process, that the activities of the chaplains of the Ukrainian army are part of the information part of the war, without which modern wars cannot be won. Key words: military chaplain, national security, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, religion, church, freedom of worldview and religion, morality, law, war, national-patriotic education.

The Sword of the Lord is the first book to examine military chaplains and the development of the military chaplaincy across history and geography - from the first to the twenty-first century, from Europe to North America. The scope of this work reveals the astonishing fact that the military chaplaincy has existed in a recognizable form for more than 1600 years. Contributors analyze specific historical moments in the development of the chaplaincy, beginning in antiquity and progressing through the Crusades, the English Civil War, the American Civil War, both World Wars, and the Vietnam War. Four key themes connect the chapters of this book. The first is the basic issue of historical development over time. Where and when did the military chaplaincy begin and how has it changed? A second theme involves the emotionally and spiritually intense relationships that develop between chaplains and the men and women they serve. How have military chaplains dealt with the enormous responsibility of ministering to soldiers about to kill or possibly be killed? The third theme is that of chaplains' often precarious position between military and religious authorities. Are military chaplains primarily morale boosters, retained by rulers and military commanders because they prepare soldiers to fight hard and face death bravely? Or are they above all pastors, caring for the spiritual needs of their constituency? How do they balance conflicting duties and demands? A fourth related theme is the profound moral and theological dilemmas raised by the chaplaincy. Even under the least morally ambiguous circumstances, chaplains work in the midst of violence, coercion, and suffering. How have they understood their tasks and carried them out in deeply troubled and brutal times? What are the ethical implications of their work? In addition to contributions by historians, this book includes vivid accounts by two former chaplains - an American rabbi who served in World War II and an American Catholic priest who served in Vietnam. This remarkable work treats with care and sensitivity a fascinating and important topic. Anyone interested in military history, religious studies, ethics, or pastoral care will profit from reading this book.

This text aims at presenting a piece of qualitative research that investigated the process by which some English as Additional Language (EAL) teachers were involved in (re) constructing their professional identity. Based on socio-interactionist perspectives, the study focuses on investigating some written and oral texts produced by a group of EAL teachers in southwest Paraná to see what these texts reveal concerning their professional identity. In relation to data generation and analysis, this study draws on data from three English workshops of an Extension Program which occurred from March 2012 to June 2013. In those workshops, concepts and ideas related to teachers' professional identity and subjectivity, teacher's social role in public schools, as well as teaching practices were widely discussed. Six in-service teachers attended the workshops regularly and produced oral and written texts of different genres, such as oral discussions and written autobiographies and reports. Some of those texts were, then, selected and analysed. Results show that a) the participant-teachers' identities seem to be fragmented and a life-long process; b) teachers see themselves in constant change and in professional development due to the changes in relation to the EAL teacher's role in public schools and to the EAL status in the world; c) the EAL teachers' life trajectories, including social positions (in family, school, work, and in other different social contexts), are essential in the construction of their professional and academic identities.

The present study addresses the life and educational trajectories, personal network, obstacles and achievements of three women who, as holders of a social plan, obtained a bachelor's degree in a universitylevel career. This is a mixed method research, with qualitative predominance, with a concurrent nested or embedded design. Objectives: to know life and educational trajectories of these women and to describe their personal networks, identifying their characteristics and the type of support received from them. The instruments used to collect the information were an ad hoc semi-structured interview and personal networks analysis. Egonet software and qualitative analysis were used in the social media analysis for the interviews. Participants' life trajectories allow us to glimpse an accumulation of disadvantages or exclusions that, due to certain personal characteristics (perseverance and expectations of achievement), to their personal networks (union and group cooperation) and to the opportunity provided as beneficiaries of a social labor plan to access to a higher level education, they were able to complete their studies.

The article is devoted to law-making activities in the field of combating pornography in Ukraine in the context of European integration and the Russian-Ukrainian war. The relevance of the study is due to the fact that the legislator is forced to respond to threats to privacy and manifestations of digital violence against individuals. An analysis of the draft Law of Ukraine No. 14165 of 29 October 2025 has made it possible to formulate the reasons for revising the traditional approach to the criminalisation of actions involving pornographic items (Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The prospects for further criminalisation of the most socially dangerous manifestations of pornography circulation (exploitation, coercion, involvement of minors, distribution of materials without the consent of the person) are substantiated. Particular attention is paid to the innovation of draft law No. 14165 – the introduction of a special provision on liability for the illegal distribution of intimate materials and sexual content without the consent of the victim, in particular in the forms of «revenge porn» and the use of artificial intelligence technologies (deepfake). The article summarises European experience, which is dominated by a model of partial legalisation of the circulation of «adult» content, while strengthening criminal law protection of children and prohibiting violent forms of pornography production. The study argues that the definition of the limits of criminalisation should be based on standards of privacy protection (constitutional guarantees and approaches of the European Convention on Human Rights), as well as on the principle of proportionality of state intervention. It concludes that draft law No. 14165 is generally in line with current European trends and could contribute to the harmonisation of national criminal legislation with the EU acquis, but that some of its provisions need further refinement. Keywords: adaptation, draft law, criminalisation, criminal offence, morality, pornographic material, privacy, sexual freedom.

The issues of modernizing public finances to support veteran business in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the socioeconomic instability in its wake are relevant and consistent with the philosophy of the Ukrainian Peace Formula that is widely discussed by the President of Ukraine with stakeholders, e. g. at the Global Peace Summit. The adjustment and approximation of public finances to the real needs of veterans’ businesses is determined by its significant importance in economic recovery after the Russian-Ukrainian war, creating new jobs, promoting the financial autonomy of local governments and increasing social stability in general and the veteran community in particular. Admittedly, running a veteran business in wartime is highly crisis-prone, requiring the use of an unorthodox set of anti-crisis tools embodied in the State support (in all manifestation forms), setting public finances to the forefront in ensuring the sustainability of veteran business and its sustainable progress in the period of post-war recovery. The aim of the study is to systematize the problems faced by veteran business in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, as well as to develop recommendations for the modernization of public finances to ensure its resilience. The authors focus on the need to create new financial instruments that will take into account war risks, in particular considering veterans’ access to preferential lending, grant programs to support their businesses, also the introduction of tax benefits, taking into account the requirements contained in the National Revenue Strategy until 2030. Special attention is paid to the digitalization of veteran business and the development of psychological support programs for veterans as one of the key approaches in ensuring the resilience of veteran business. Due to this resilience, veterans’ businesses resist economic uncertainty, destruction of infrastructure (particularly in the energy sector), a decrease in the domestic purchasing power of the population, limited access to financial resources. In order to develop the level of resilience of veteran business, the need to create innovative financial instruments, including government guarantees for loans and business risk insurance, has been proposed and substantiated. The results of the study also highlight the importance of government support for further progress in the digitalization of veteran business through grant funding and specialized training programs. Thus, the modernization of public finances is a prerequisite for ensuring additional resilience of veteran business both during the war and in the process of post-war reconstruction. The authors offer specific recommendations for the modernization of public finances, which include the integration of new support mechanisms adapted to the specifics of veteran business in the face of economic uncertainty and the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Spiritual resources as antecedents of clergy well-being: The importance of occupationally specific variables

This article explores hope as a spiritual resource among children with end-stage renal disease, situating their experiences within broader theological and pastoral discourses. While recent theologies of hope—grounded in Pauline literature and eschatological frameworks—primarily emphasize adult existential concerns, little attention has been given to children’s own accounts of hopefulness. Drawing on qualitative research with twelve children aged 9–19, the study develops a preliminary theological model of hope that is contextual, relational, and conative. Five pathways to hope are identified—maintaining identity, real/izing connections, claiming power, attending to God, and learning wisdom—each shaped by the interplay of illness, interdisciplinary care teams, and experiences of suffering. Unlike dominant future-oriented theologies, children describe hope as present and participatory, manifesting in daily relationships, immediate abundance, and embodied practices of resilience. Their accounts challenge eschatologies centered on deferred fulfillment and Christological abstraction, suggesting instead a lived, sapiential eschatology rooted in ordinary grace and community. The article concludes by reflecting on implications for pastoral, clinical, and community practice, highlighting the need for intentional, relational strategies to nurture hope in chronically ill children as both a spiritual and medical resource.

Discussing Spirituality and the Wisdom of Aging

This article elaborates on the concept of the front line in the context of border studies and consider the societal peculiarities of Ukrainian frontline cities compared to other Ukrainian cities at war, employing the methodology of a phenomenological analysis and systematizing the statistical data. Using the concept of a military “borderscape”, the paper examines the structural and daily aspects of living near the front line. Specifically, it discusses how distance from the front line influences the population’s decision to migrate or remain in frontline cities during the Russian-Ukrainian War. Desktop research employing qualitative comparative analysis reveals the peculiarities of Ukrainian frontline cities’ functioning in terms of population dynamics, higher education, culture, and the economy. The research reveals that frontline cities become logistical deadlocks under the influence of the front line, experiencing economic marginalization, population fluctuation (a temporary decrease in population when the front line approaches, followed by stabilization when it retreats), and stagnation of cultural life and education (with schoolchildren and students mainly learning online).

This study used a qualitative descriptive research design to discover the relevance and meaning of spirituality in the lives of 130 urban low-income pregnant women by asking the open-ended question, "How does your faith or spirituality affect your pregnancy if at all?" Forty-seven percent of the women in this study described how spirituality affected their pregnancy positively, 45% described that spirituality did not affect them, and 5.4% were unsure. A content analysis of those who answered positively revealed six themes from the data describing the meaning of faith or spirituality in pregnancy: (a) guidance and support; (b) protection, blessing, or reward; (c) communication with God; (d) strength and confidence; (e) help with difficult moral choices; and (f) a generalized positive effect. These findings point to the importance of attending to spirituality as a resource in pregnancy for those who value it and further exploring the meaning of spirituality in pregnancy.

Introduction. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Italy, which has long had close economic, political and cultural ties with Russia, has found itself in a situation of some social and political imbalance. The presence of different, even opposing, views was reflected in the media: some publications have adopted an openly pro-Ukrainian position, while others have taken an openly anti-NATO position, if not openly pro-Russian, providing information about the causes, course and possible solutions to the war in accordance with these positions. Relevance and purpose. The relevance of the study lies in the need to research the narratives of the Italian press about the Russian-Ukrainian war. The purpose of the article is to outline the vision of the Russian-Ukrainian war in one of the leading Italian newspapers “La Repubblica”. The research methodology involves a quantitative and qualitative content analysis of the publications of the website and the archive of issues of “La Repubblica” in the period from 24.02.2022 to 1.05.2022. The systematisation method allowed to systematise the results obtained during the automated research, the generalisation method – to draw conclusions of research. Results. A qualitative analysis of publications shows that news reports related to Ukraine on the La Repubblica website since the beginning of the Russian invasion have been published in a separate daily publication “The Russia-Ukraine War, News for [date]”. The total number of mentions in the publications using the keyword “war Ukraine” using the automatic search is 7,767 mentions. The most frequently used phrases were selected from this array and grouped into 8 thematic blocks: “Zelenskyy”, “refugees”, “Mariupol”, “Russian troops”, “Bucha”. It has been found that only a small proportion of publications on the pages and website of “La Repubblica” contain the terms “Nazis” and “neo-Nazis”. Conclusions. Based on the data processing results, it was found that the Italian newspaper “La Repubblica” covers information about the Russian-Ukrainian war using frames of a war for democratic values, where Ukraine and its population is considered to be a victim of unmotivated aggression of Russia Federation, and Ukrainian politicians are portrayed as new symbols of humanistic values. There is an attempt to avoid focusing on acute issues related to Ukraine or internal Ukrainian politics, which can be partially defined as “pro-Ukrainian” propaganda. The findings are important for the inclusion of Italian media in the broader framework of European media coverage of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Canadian Forces' chaplains are able to negotiate the disparities between institutional goals and the human needs of military personnel through their ‘ministry of presence’, capacity to operate outside the chain of command, and symbolically ‘neutral’ rank, to provide meaningful support and pastoral care. This article uses sociological and phenomenological perspectives based on interviews with Christian military chaplains in the Canadian Forces as well as other studies on religion in Canada and religion in late modernity to examine the changing face of religion in Canada, provide an overview of the development of the Canadian Forces' Chaplain Branch, discuss new forms of religious diversity, and finally, examine how Canadian military chaplains today continue to contribute meaningfully to military operations in their ongoing support of human needs. This analysis offers insights into the alienation that can come from working in a modern bureaucratic institution, the challenges of adapting to a religiously diverse environment, and the difficulty of bridging the gap between these two spheres in order to sustain operational effectiveness.