The Basilian Monastery of the Sacred Heart of Christ in the village of Zvanivka, Bakhmut district, Donetsk Oblast, is the only Greek-Catholic monastic house of the Order of Saint Basil the Great (OSBM) in Donbas. Founded on 27 July 1998, it became a spiritual centre for the Greek-Catholics of eastern Ukraine and, from 2017, also a place of a Marian indulgence. The house is situated in a village founded by migrants from Galicia and today lies in a war zone. [1][2][3]
Briefly about the monastery
- Full name: Monastery of the Basilian Fathers of the Heart of Christ (Order of Saint Basil the Great, UGCC). [1][2]
- Address: Zvanivka village, 2-B Shevchenko Street, Bakhmut district, Donetsk Oblast, 84528. [1][4]
- Founded: 27 July 1998. [1][2]
- Superior: Father Klavdii Marunchak, OSBM. [4]
- Status: an active monastery of the UGCC; a place of Marian indulgence. [1][2]
A village in Donbas with Galician roots
The village of Zvanivka lies on the banks of the Bakhmutka river, about 28 km from the district centre. It has its own railway station. [2]
The history of the house is closely connected with migrants from Galicia. Radio Svoboda devoted a separate feature to how Boykos resettled from Galicia founded a Greek-Catholic community in Donbas. The village preserves the identity of the Galician Boykos, who brought here their Greek-Catholic faith and loyalty to Rome. [3]
The path to the monastery
The parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Zvanivka was founded on 3 September 1991. [1]
Blessed Liubomyr (Huzar) gave his blessing on 23 September 1996 for the monastery to exist. Later, on 27 July 1998, Blessed Vasyl gave his blessing for the founding of the monastery. This date is considered the official day of the house’s establishment. [1]
The monastery belongs to the Donetsk Exarchate of the UGCC — a church district that cares for the Greek-Catholic communities of eastern Ukraine. [1]
The Basilian Order in Donbas
The Basilians (OSBM) are one of the oldest Eastern monastic orders, founded in the tradition of Saint Basil the Great. They played a key role in spreading Greek-Catholic spirituality in Ukraine. After the restoration of independence, the Order returned to activity in the east of the country. [4]
The Basilian monastery in Zvanivka, at the address 2-B Shevchenko Street, was headed by Father Klavdii Marunchak. [4]
The Marian indulgence site
The house acquired particular importance on 2 August 2017, when His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head of the UGCC, granted permission and a blessing for the establishment of a Marian indulgence site (place of plenary indulgence) at the parish of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ in the village of Zvanivka of the Donetsk Exarchate. [1]
A copy of the wonder-working icon “The Mother of God of Tenderness” is kept here. The Head of the Church recommended establishing an annual pilgrimage to this place on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. [1]
The Church readily grants all the faithful the opportunity to receive in the Zvanivka parish forgiveness of all sins and a full indulgence, which can also be offered as reparation for the souls of the faithful in purgatory. [1]
Spirituality and vocation
The Monastery of the Heart of Christ lives by the spirituality of the Basilian Order of Saint Josaphat. It combines the Eastern monastic tradition with the Union heritage and an intensified devotion to the Sacred Heart. [4]
This place became a refuge for the Greek-Catholic communities of the east, where after 1991 parishes destroyed by Soviet power after 1946 were being revived. [1][3]
War and the future
The Bakhmut district became one of the fiercest theatres of fighting in 2022–2023. Zvanivka, on the banks of the Bakhmutka, found itself in direct proximity to the front. [1][2]
The Greek-Catholic community, forced to leave its homes, faced the challenge of preserving faith and parish in time of war. The monastery and its indulgence site became a symbol of hope for internally displaced people from Donbas — many of them found refuge in more western regions of Ukraine. [1][3]
Practical information
- Address: Zvanivka village, 2-B Shevchenko Street, Bakhmut district, Donetsk Oblast, 84528. [1][4]
- Affiliation: Donetsk Exarchate of the UGCC; Order of Saint Basil the Great. [1][4]
- Main feast: the Marian indulgence on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. [1]
- Shrine: a copy of the icon “The Mother of God of Tenderness”. [1]
Frequently asked questions
When was the Basilian monastery in Zvanivka founded?
On 27 July 1998, by the blessing of Blessed Vasyl. [1]
Which Church does the house belong to?
The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, Donetsk Exarchate, Order of Saint Basil the Great (OSBM). [1][4]
What is a Marian indulgence site?
It is a place established in 2017 by the Head of the UGCC Sviatoslav, where the faithful can receive a full indulgence; a copy of the icon “The Mother of God of Tenderness” is kept here. [1]
Who leads the monastery?
The superior was Father Klavdii Marunchak, OSBM. [4]
Does the house suffer from the war?
Yes, since 2022 the Bakhmut district has been an epicentre of fighting, which significantly complicates the life of the community. [1][2][3]
Conclusion
The Basilian Monastery of the Sacred Heart of Christ in Zvanivka is a unique island of Greek-Catholic spirituality in industrial Donbas. Founded by migrants from Galicia in 1998, it became a centre for the renewed Greek-Catholic communities of the east, and from 2017 — a place of Marian pilgrimage. In the whirlwind of war the house continues to embody the hope and unbreakable faith of those who do not abandon their native land. [1][3][4]