Bishop Vasyl Volodymyr Tuchapets

Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets, Exarch of Kharkiv and Head of the Social Ministry Department of the UGCC. Born on September 29, 1967, in Yavoriv (Lviv region). Ordained a priest on July 12, 1997, by the Most Reverend Bishop Sofron Dmyterko, Eparch of Ivano-Frankivsk. Consecrated a bishop on May 21, 2014, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv. Enthroned on June 1, 2014, at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Kharkiv. Childhood and family: Born on September 29, 1967, in Yavoriv (Lviv region) to the family of Vasyl Tuchapets and Kateryna Datsko; given the name Volodymyr at birth. Education: Studied at Yavoriv Secondary School (1974–1982) and Ivano-Frankivsk Vocational School No. 14 (1982–1986); completed the preparatory program and the first year of study at the Faculty of Architecture of the Lviv Polytechnic Institute (1988–1990). On November 10, 1986, he entered the Basilian Order within the Province of the Most Holy Savior in Ukraine, which was operating underground at the time. From 1986 to 1988, he performed military service in the Soviet Army. Priestly ministry: On March 12, 1989, he received the monastic habit of the Basilian Order and the religious name Vasyl. He continued his novitiate starting in August 1990 at the Hoshiv Monastery, and later at the Krekhiv Monastery under the guidance of Fr. Teodoziy Yankiv. He made his first temporary monastic vows on October 6, 1991, in Krekhiv, and his perpetual vows on December 29 in Zhovkva. From 1991 to 1997, he studied at the Pontifical Theological Faculty (St. John the Baptist Section) in Warsaw, graduating with a Master’s degree in Theology. In 1998, at the same faculty, he defended his licentiate thesis in patrology, titled "The Teaching of Gregory Palamas on Unceasing Prayer." He also undertook spiritual formation courses with the Salvatorian Fathers in Kraków (2001–2002). He was ordained a deacon on January 5, 1997, in Ivano-Frankivsk by Bishop Sofron Dmyterko, OSBM. On July 12, 1997, he received priestly ordination from the same bishop at the cathedral in Ivano-Frankivsk. He served as superior and parish priest in Zolochiv (1998–2000), hegumen and parish priest in Krekhiv (2000–2002), and parish priest in Zhovkva (2002–2005). He taught ascetics at the Basilian Institute of Philosophical and Theological Studies in Zolochiv (1998–2000) and at the Kharkiv College of the UAOC (2006–2009). From 2005 to 2014, he was the superior of the St. Basil the Great Monastery in Kyiv. He also served as the monastery’s bursar, an assistant parish priest, and a retreat master. From 2012 to 2014, he served as the Provincial Vicar of the Basilian Province of the Most Holy Savior in Ukraine. Regarding his episcopal ministry: on April 2, 2014, the new Kharkiv Exarchate of the UGCC was established following the division of the former Donetsk-Kharkiv Exarchate, which was under the jurisdiction of the Major Archeparchy of Kyiv-Halych. Bishop Vasyl was appointed the first Exarch of this exarchate, receiving the title of Bishop of Centuriones. "The primary task of the Church is the proclamation of the Word of God. This is the first task I set for the priests: ensuring that catechesis takes place in every one of our parishes and that work is conducted with youth, children, and adults. We organize 'Vacations with God' for children, hold summer camps, and arrange pilgrimages to various holy sites. The second task is organizing a proper place for divine services. Currently, our priests pray in chapels, in trailers, or even in private homes. Therefore, the second task is the construction of churches; we are currently building four churches. The third area of focus is the registration of new communities. People approach us with such requests, so nine more communities in our exarchate are currently preparing for registration. As we can see, the harvest is plentiful—many workers are needed for ministry in Eastern Ukraine. The ministry of monastic communities is very important for our exarchate. The prayer, dedication, and sacrificial service of monks and nuns bring great divine blessing. This year, we invited the Basilian Sisters to serve in Poltava," notes Bishop Vasyl regarding the specifics of ministry in the Kharkiv Exarchate. His episcopal ordination took place on May 21, 2014, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv. The principal consecrator was the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, with Bishops Vasyl Medvit and Stepan Menok serving as co-consecrators. "Today, I wish to cry out, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul,' to thank Him for all the good deeds He has done for me." "I am grateful to God for the gift of apostolic succession with which He has endowed me today. I am grateful to Him for the trust He places in me," said Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets, Exarch of Kharkiv of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), following his episcopal ordination. On June 1, 2014, the enthronement of Bishop Vasyl as Exarch of Kharkiv took place at the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kharkiv, conducted by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC. By a decision of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC on September 14, 2017, Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets was appointed Head of the UGCC Social Department. Bishop Vasyl views the implementation of the strategy for developing social ministry in our Church as follows: "It was at this very Synod that our Church’s social ministry strategy was adopted, defining three main priorities. The first is fostering a spirit of self-sacrifice and social responsibility. It is about the fact that every person is called to show mercy. The greatest commandment, as is known, is the commandment to love God. And the second, like it, is to love one’s neighbor. This is precisely what finds expression in serving those in need. And a person's salvation even depends on this! For Christ Himself says: 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' When a Christian shows love to those in need through concrete actions, he is, firstly, fulfilling the commandment of love. Secondly, he is walking the path of salvation that Christ grants us. Self-sacrifice is conscious mercy. Social responsibility, on the other hand, is linked to caring; it is about the desire to see the needs of other people." And to help those in need to the best of one’s ability: spiritually—through prayer or simple human support and interaction—as well as materially. Once this realization is reached, the next step outlined in the Strategy is the actual ministry itself—the desire to actively help another person. It is about serving the well-being of the needy; it is the practical realization and fulfillment of mercy through concrete actions and deeds. The third area of focus within the Strategy is the institutional development and professionalization of social ministry within our Church. Undoubtedly, one can engage in charitable activities spontaneously, thereby showing mercy; this, too, helps people. However, organized ministry and the coordination of various social initiatives and efforts yield even greater results. In light of this, the Synod decided to establish a separate Department of Social Ministry of the UGCC to address precisely these issues. This Department is tasked with developing a program to implement the Social Ministry Strategy. On October 6, 2020, by a decree of the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav—"We, by the authority vested in us, having obtained the consent of the Synod of Bishops held on September 29, 2020, via a remote session (online) (Resolution No. 10), and taking into account the provisions of Canon 114, § 2 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, hereby extend the validity of the aforementioned decree"—Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets continued his service as Head of the UGCC Department of Social Ministry. Subsequently, at the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC held in Przemyśl (Poland) from July 7 to 15, 2022, Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets was re-elected as Head of the UGCC Department of Social Ministry. The decree extending the validity of the previous decree was published on July 16, 2022.