Today we are speaking with Father Ivan Hnativ, the administrator of the Gilbert Plains pastoral district in western Manitoba. Father Ivan was born into a priestly family in the town of Drohobych, western Ukraine. Although he is a priest of the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy, this year marks his fourth year serving in the Archeparchy of Winnipeg. Our conversation covers his life path, his vocation to the priesthood, his journey to Canada, and much more.
Father Ivan, please tell us where you are from and what your childhood was like. How did you feel the vocation to the priesthood? Was there a special moment or person who influenced this decision?
I was born in Ukraine, in the Lviv region, in the cozy town of Drohobych on May 29, 1985. At that time, my parents, Ivan and Olha, worked at a factory that manufactured truck cranes.
When I was seven years old, my father began his studies at the Lviv Holy Spirit Theological Seminary. Until his ordination, my main spiritual mentor was my grandmother, Yulia. Almost every day, she invited me to pray with her, whether it was the Stations of the Cross, daily prayers, or a Moleben (prayer service).
When my father became a priest, many things changed. I was in church every Sunday. I served at the altar, attended catechism classes, and sang in the children’s choir. This period fostered a deep feeling in me that the church was my home. I was comfortable there, and I felt like I belonged. I believe these childhood moments laid the foundation for my openness to the vocation of the priesthood.
Was there a special spiritual moment in your life that changed you significantly? Please share how you experienced those moments when you felt that God was acting specifically in your life.
It is difficult to single out one specific moment that changed me significantly. My spiritual progress has been an evolution rather than a revolution.
I still experience moments when I feel the Lord God is extremely close. These are times of sheer joy, confidence, inner peace, and inspiration. However, there are periods when God feels very far away—so far that it seems He has abandoned me. These moments are filled with longing, sadness, and uncertainty. However, I think the Lord intentionally distances Himself so that I begin to seek Him again.
I also frequently notice God acting specifically in my life, often in ordinary situations. One could call it coincidence or luck, but I am convinced He directly intervenes.
Here is an example. When my wife and I were expecting our first daughter (we have two, Anastasia and Kateryna), we faced a difficult choice. To understand why this was significant, I must explain the context. At that time, the Ukrainian medical system was outdated. The quality of treatment in a hospital usually depended on the size of the bribe offered to the staff. If one wanted the best obstetrician, the family was expected to make a financial arrangement in advance.
My wife and I decided not to do this. Many friends and relatives were surprised; they thought we were imprudent to leave such a serious matter to chance. During Iryna’s pregnancy, we felt serious pressure. We questioned if we should just pay the bribe to have peace of mind. But we did not. We worried, and we prayed.
When Iryna went into labor, her parents brought her to the maternity ward. A miracle happened: the best obstetrician on the ward was on shift that day. Was this a coincidence? Perhaps. But I don’t think so. Later, my father told me simply: “Be faithful to Him, and He will not betray you.”
There have been many such events in my life. When common sense dictated that I should submit to the system—because “everyone does it”—I remained faithful to God. In return, He rewarded me with the best “coincidences.” It surprises me how it all worked out, even though some people still don’t believe we managed without bribery.
Please tell us a little about the seminary where you studied. Which parishes or communities have you served previously? What is most valuable to you in the parish where you serve today?
After finishing high school in 2002, I entered the Drohobych Theological Seminary. Frankly, it was a somewhat difficult period. While my peers were studying at secular universities, building careers, and enjoying a life of freedom, I lived a restricted lifestyle. We lived in the seminary, had only one hour of free time to walk around the city, and were allowed home only one weekend a month.
There were critical moments when I wanted to quit. However, I was blessed that my father has an extraordinary talent for supporting people in crisis. In those difficult moments, he always found the right words to help me rediscover my motivation.
After graduating from seminary, I still doubted if the priesthood was right for me. I decided to search for a different path. I entered Drohobych Pedagogical University and graduated as a teacher of Ukrainian language and literature. Although I soon realized teaching wasn’t for me, I still completed my studies.
It surprises me that no matter how hard I tried to evade my vocation, something always returned me to the right path. I considered being a dentist, a cook, an actor—I tried different careers, but I never felt lasting satisfaction.
When I met my future wife, Iryna, she helped affirm my vocation. She remained calm, and I felt no anxiety or rejection from her regarding the priesthood. She supported me then, and she supports me now. I am sure she had her own doubts, but she never stood in the way. It became not just “my” path to the priesthood, but “our” path.
Following my ordination by Bishop Yaroslav (Pryriz) and my pastoral internship, I was assigned to a small parish in the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy. It included three villages: Mshanets, Ploske, and Halivka. I will always have a special connection to those first parishioners as I learned how to be a pastor.
Three years later, Bishop Yaroslav asked me to serve as a chaplain at the “Nazareth” Rehabilitation Center. Simultaneously, I served a small parish in the suburbs of my hometown. I was grateful for this balance. At the rehab center, I encountered deep pain and despair while trying to support those battling addiction. Ministering to the small parish community allowed me to rest and rejuvenate.
In 2021, I began my ministry in Canada as the administrator of the Gilbert Plains pastoral district. My younger sister, Yulia, had already moved to Ontario, and Father Ihor Shved—whom I worked with at “Nazareth”—was already serving in Winnipeg.
I cannot recall exactly when the thought of serving in Canada arrived, but it felt like a logical step. Given the need for priests, I expressed my readiness to Metropolitan Lawrence. After meeting him personally in 2019, I received an invitation to come to Winnipeg.
I appreciate the calmness and general approach to life inherent in Canadians. I am truly enjoying my experience with the parishioners here. It feels as though I am taking my first steps in the priesthood all over again. I am encountering a different mentality, a new flow of parish life, and new aspects of pastoral ministry.
One tradition I particularly like here is the shared lunch, or “potluck,” on feast days (Praznyk). This was new to me. In Ukraine, after a festive Liturgy, people usually disperse to their own homes to host guests. Here, everyone stays. They share a meal, and the priest joins them. These moments truly allow the faithful to feel like one big, friendly family.
What is your favorite prayer or biblical passage that accompanies you in life? Is there any small daily habit in your life that helps keep a spiritual balance?
It is difficult for me to choose just one specific prayer, as different moments in life call for different words. However, in times of unrest, anxiety, or uncertainty, I turn to the prayer to the Holy Spirit: “Heavenly King.” When I am experiencing a difficult moment, deep sadness, or longing, I pray Psalm 50 and the Jesus Prayer. When I am petitioning the Lord for something specific, I recite the Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father”) as well as the “Hail Mary.”
There is, however, one passage from Holy Scripture that I would definitely call my favorite. It helps restore my inspiration, especially when I face unfair defeat or feel rejected by the world. It comes from Hebrews 11:
“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:32-40)
Regarding daily habits, the simple act of contemplation helps me maintain spiritual balance. Once a day—the specific time does not matter—I find a moment to be alone, put everything else aside, and simply think.
I reflect on many different things: the meaning of life, God, the world, people, myself, or the lives of the saints. I try to comprehend the events happening around me. I often feel that I grow the most during these quiet moments of reflection.
What advice would you give to a young person looking for their path in life? What, in your opinion, is important for the modern Christian family?
If a young person asked me how to find their path, I would answer: do not be afraid to search and try. It is through discernment that you will clearly understand your true vocation.
Simply remain open. The Holy Spirit will come to comfort you and guide you to the Truth. He will fill your search with substance and meaning, culminating in that priceless, eternal treasure granted by the Grace of God—the salvation of the soul.
When reflecting on the modern Christian family, I believe the most important element is privacy.
The chaotic flow of information, social networks, and instant access to everything have created a pressure to put our lives on display. We are accustomed to following trends and the mainstream. However, I believe that every family requires a special, almost sacred, space. This space should be inaccessible to the outside world, reserved only for one’s closest family and the Lord God Himself.
Department of Communications
Archeparchy of Winnipeg
Questions prepared by Vasylyna Kobetiak
