Nestor Vysochanskyi

Nestor grew up in a priestly family and from childhood was captivated by watching his father stand at the altar and celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Love for the Lord and the Church was nurtured in him by his mother and grandfather, who often taught him to trust God, repeating: “When I trust in God, I have nothing to fear.” These words became deeply rooted in his life.

A turning point on his way to vocation was the death of his father, when Nestor was 11 years old. At that moment, he turned to Jesus for the first time, asking Him to return his father for one last embrace. It was then he felt surrounded by the love of Jesus, his family, and the Church. He experienced the strength of the Church and the community united as one body through the Eucharist, and since then has lived with a sense of God’s presence.

From childhood, Nestor could not imagine any other path than the priesthood. He was convinced that God was calling him to this and decided to entrust himself fully to Him. He followed the example of his older brother Ivan, now a deacon, who also studied at the Kyiv Seminary.

I have always been drawn to serve where our Church is expanding. I wish to contribute by preaching where people have not yet come to know Christ. We are all called to make this world a better place. The words of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, ‘Desire great things,’ reminds us to do all we are capable of.

Nestor Vysochanskyi,