The annual clergy conference of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA was a spiritually uplifting and educational gathering at the Church's spiritual center in South Bound Brook, New Jersey.

On October 14, 2024, 78 priests and deacons from across the nation assembled under the guidance of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony and His Eminence Archbishop Daniel.

This year's conference began on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, with a profoundly moving prayer service led by Archbishop Daniel in front of the icon of the Mother of God, the Nurturer of Children. The clergy gathered in prayer, asking for the intercession of the Theotokos on behalf of the youth of the Church and their parents. This prayer service, set against the backdrop of an increasingly challenging world, was especially poignant. In a time when society's moral and social fabric is being tested, and many educational systems are failing to uphold the spiritual and moral teachings that are the foundation of Christian life, the clergy sought divine protection for the vulnerable children of the Church. The prayers reflected the Church's deep concern for future generations, invoking the tender care of the Mother of God to guide and protect the youth amid these trials.

Following this, Archbishop Daniel delivered a short reflection to the clergy, reminding them of the spiritual fatherhood entrusted to them. He spoke of the sacred responsibility of the priests to care for their parish communities, likening their role to the loving, protective care of a father. The archbishop emphasized the importance of this fatherly duty, especially in times of spiritual and moral crisis, urging the clergy to remain steadfast in their dedication to the souls entrusted to their care.

Metropolitan Antony opened the clergy conference with a call for all the brethren present to continually examine the path of their individual priestly service to discern whether or not they are wavering away from the narrow path, which is their calling:

It is with deep joy and gratitude that we welcome you all to this year’s annual Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States of America. Today, as we gather in the spirit of fellowship, we stand reminded of the sacred bond that unites us—the mutual responsibility given by our Lord to care for the faithful entrusted to us. This annual gathering serves not only as an opportunity for learning, reflection and collaboration, but as a chance to renew the mission we share: to nurture and lead the Body of Christ – and I use these words deliberately – the Church is the BODY OF CHRIST.  It is not “my” Church or “your” Church or even “our” Church.  It is the Body of Christ over which we may not claim ownership or lordship! 

Our gathering today calls to mind the words of St. John Chrysostom, who said, “The work of the priest is done on earth, but it is ranked among heavenly ordinances.” The priest occupies a unique place in God’s structuring of His Church, for it is through the hands of the priest that Christ’s sacraments are delivered, and through his voice that the Gospel is proclaimed. Chrysostom also reminds us, “The priestly office is indeed discharged on earth, but it ranks among the things that are heavenly,” emphasizing the sacred calling that each of us bears as shepherds of God’s flock.  We need to remember this at all times, my dear brothers…we are trusted by God to hold in our hands the Precious Body and Blood or His Only-Begotten Son – Jesus Christ. We are trusted to share the Precious Body and Blood with the faithful so that they may be one with us and all of us with our Lord, beseeching that His “Holy Body may be for us Life Eternal and that His Precious Blood for the remission of our sins…granting us joy, health and gladness…and worthy to stand at the Right Hand of His Glory…” (Fourth prayer following Communion.)  Further, we must realize that our unity with Christ is not only a vertical unity or reality between us as individuals and our Lord.  It is also a horizontal unity, for the Holy Eucharist also unites all of us who partake of it together – experiencing the reality of “Christ abiding in us” – for we are those who “eat of His Flesh and drink of His Blood and thus, abide in Him.

In our time, more than ever, each of us, as priests, is called to be a modern-day evangelist. It is not enough to be content with serving those who are already in our pews. We are called to reach beyond the walls of our churches and engage with the world around us, bringing the light of Christ into the lives of those who are lost, forgotten, or alienated. We must reach out to those who have fallen away, to the unchurched, and to those who have never heard the life-giving message of the Gospel. In our parishes, we are called to cultivate communities of love, where faith is lived not only in word but in action—communities that serve not just the needs within, but those without, particularly the poor, the suffering, the lonely, the lost and the marginalized.  We must question ourselves – question our conscience – to discern whether or not we are truly being the ones who “DO work of the priest on earth, which is ranked among Heavenly ordinances.”  Or do we allow the least of distractions to steal us away from being a priest whose deeds will be accepted in Heaven.  I say to you and to myself – if we allow anything – money, non-priestly employment, politics and on and on – to distract us from our priestly responsibilities…we WILL answer for it before our Lord.  We all must strive DAILY, HOURLY, EVERY MINUTE to be poor in spirit, to be those who mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful, to be pure in heart, to be peacemakers and to be strong in our faith in Christ our Lord even we may be persecuted and hear all manner of evil spoken against us.  If we never or even seldom strive for these virtues we should not be surprised if we “receive NO great reward in Heaven”.  We have been “set aside” to bring Grace to others and to be examples for them to follow in the path of life.  If we fail to strive for our Lord’s  “Beatitudes”– any one of them – we WILL be judged for our failure…remember…we will NOT be judged as the faithful we serve will judged – we WILL be judged according to a much higher standard.

As the clergy conference of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA unfolded, a recurring theme emerged: the profound interconnectedness of faith, responsibility, and community. This sacred gathering not only provided a platform for the exchange of pastoral wisdom but also served as a living testament to the enduring strength of the Church in the face of modern challenges.

Following His Eminence’s message, he introduced Fr. Paul Jannakos’ who offered two presentations first on “MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS FROM AN ORTHODOX PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE” and second “AN ORTHODOX APPROACH TO ALCOHOLISM AND OTHER ADDICTIONS”.  The clergy broke out into discussion groups as part of each presentation and returned to share what was discerned about the paths of their priesthood, which will be of assistance to them in completing their priestly responsibilities so well that they will indeed “rank among the things that are heavenly”.  Fr. Paul is a professional in community counseling and addictions counseling, who shares his wealth of experience with his brother clergy around the world enriching their understanding of mental health issues and the way they can better comprehend various forms of addiction.  Significantly, discussions ensued during his presentations about the moral crises affecting society, particularly the erosion of spirituality in education and the breakdown of moral values in the public sphere. In these conversations, the clergy reflected on their role as defenders of the faith, tasked with nurturing the spiritual well-being of both individuals and families. There was a deep recognition that the Church, as a spiritual mother, must stand in the gap where secular institutions fail, offering moral clarity and hope.

The final presentation of this first day was offered by Natalia Honcharenko, Assistant Treasurer of the Consistory, who spoke on financial accountability and the responsibilities of clergy under USA Federal Tax Codes. This session highlighted the importance of integrity and transparency in financial matters as an extension of the clergy's spiritual leadership and all aspects of the of the Codes.

That evening, the clergy and seminarians of St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary honored Metropolitan Antony’s 39th anniversary of archpastoral consecration during a formal banquet. With warmth and humor, they presented a lighthearted play that referenced the Metropolitan’s favorite fast and snacks - Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, Diet Coke, and Lay's potato chips - cleverly weaving these references into reflections on his spiritual mission and tireless service to the Church.  It was a fun and moving moment that brought His Eminence to tears.  He responded with sincere gratitude and love for the students and all the clergy present.

The second day of the conference took on the character of a spiritual pilgrimage, as the clergy traveled to three sacred sites in New York City. The first stop was the National Shrine of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, where prayers were offered for the fallen men and women of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and for the innocent lives lost in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The clergy also remembered those who perished in the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, lifting their voices in solemn prayer. Father Andreas Vithoulkas, the pastor, greeted the clergy on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their time of suffering. Metropolitan Antony offered sincere gratitude in behalf of Archbishop Daniel and all the clergy present for welcome to St. Nicholas Church and to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros for all that he has done since the invasion of Ukraine began nearly three years ago to provide aid for the people of Ukraine and to influence political leaders around the world to bring continued pressure for the invasion to end.

The second visit was to Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in the heart of New York City’s Chinatown and Little Italy. Very Rev. Fr. Todor Mazur welcomed the clergy with open arms, as Metropolitan Antony and Archbishop Daniel led a supplication service (Moleben) for the Government, Armed Forces and all the people of Ukraine who continue to suffer under yet another genocide against them with the intention of eradicating all who claim to be Ukrainian.  In addition the bishops prayed for all the Ukrainian faithful throughout the Diaspora, especially those displaced by the invasion. All those here in the USA who perished in the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City – just a few blocks from Holy Trinity Cathedral – were also remembered during the Moleben. The clergy were treated to a wonderful meal following their prayers, prepared by the cathedral sisterhood.  It goes without saying that the traditional Ukrainian home made foods were deeply appreciated!

The final stop of the day was Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, where its Pastor, V. Rev. Father Victor Wronskyj welcomed all the clergy to enter into the Church to pray the Akaphist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra before his 10th-century miraculous icon know as “St. Nicholas the Wet” – in reference to a young child who had drowned, but his parents rushed the child’s lifeless body to the icon in St. Sophia Cathedral, beseeching St. Nicholas to save him – which was exactly the outcome. This icon, a treasured relic of Kyivan Rus’, has been venerated for centuries. In front of this sacred image, the clergy prayed fervently for the intercession of St. Nicholas, asking for his protection over the Ukrainian nation as it endures the hardships of the unjustifiable invasion of Vladimir Putin’s armed forces. The presence of this ancient icon served as a reminder of the enduring faith and strength of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church throughout history, which will not be eradicated. Fr. Viktor, who is also the Vice President of the Consistory, expressed his deep gratitude for the visit, calling it a “beautiful and moving experience” to have the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA pray together before this holy icon. The parish sisterhood prepared a dinner in honor of the visiting clergy, further strengthening the bonds of fellowship.

As the pilgrimage came to a close, Archbishop Daniel presented icons as gifts to the pastors of each of the visited churches, thanking them for their hospitality and for their steadfast service to the faithful.

At the sacred Shrine of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop Daniel presented Father Andreas, with an icon of the Metropolitans of Kyiv, Ukraine. This symbolic gesture was deeply meaningful, as the original icon had been presented to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during his visit to the Metropolitan Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. A copy of this precious icon was left at Saint Nicholas Shrine for veneration, commemorating the clergy’s visit and further strengthening the bond between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and the global Orthodox community. This act served as a reminder of the shared faith and solidarity in times of need, especially as the faithful continue to pray for peace and justice for Ukraine.

The final day of the clergy conference began with a solemn and uplifting celebration of the Divine Liturgy at Saint Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church. The service, led by Archbishop Daniel with Metropolitan Antony presiding, was co-served by the deans of deaneries across the UOC of the USA. This service marked the spiritual high point of the conference, drawing the clergy together in unity before the Lord. During his homily, Archbishop Daniel reminded the clergy of the profound importance of being in the presence of God, not merely offering lip service, but living out the Gospel in their daily lives as pastors and spiritual guides. He called on the clergy to embody the teachings of Christ and to shepherd their flocks with integrity, compassion, and deep faith.

As the conference drew to a close, a luncheon was held in celebration of the bonds forged and the spiritual renewal experienced over the previous days. During this final gathering, Very Rev. Fr. Andriy Pokotylo, President of the Guardians of Metropolitan, a central organization of the UOC of the USA, presented a generous donation of $20,000 to cover tuition costs for students St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary. This gift will help further the vital ministry of educating and preparing young clergy to lead the Church in the years to come.  The Guardians intend to provide such scholarships each year in the future and also to support the printing of Liturgical and other texts for use during liturgical services in our parishes.

St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Society, another central organization of the Church, which has long supported the educational mission of the Church, also made a special annual seminary scholarship contribution to St. His Eminence Metropolitan Antony as Rector of the Seminary.  The presentation was made by the Treasurer of the Society, Fr. Ivan Tchopko who spoke warmly about the legacy of Very Rev. Fr. Wolodymyr and Dobrodiyka Levytskyy, whose dedicated service to the Church continues to inspire generations. Their daughter, Luba Levytskyy, caretaker of the Scholarship Fund that bears her parents’ names.  The Fund is part of the Society’s charitable works.  In addition to this substantial contribution, St. Andrew Society presented personal gifts were presented to each of the seminarians present at the brunch in gratitude for their devotion to our Lord and His Church.

As the conference came to a close, the clergy departed with renewed strength, having experienced days filled with prayer, learning, and deep fellowship. They returned to their parishes with a shared vision of living out the Gospel and guiding their communities with wisdom and love.

This annual clergy conference was a powerful reminder that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA remains united in faith, standing strong in its mission to serve the faithful both in America and in Ukraine, even amidst the trials and tribulations of our time.