Not Just Prayers. Father Yury Sanko — About TikTok, Snoring During Mass, and Games in Free Time
Father-Canon Yury Sanko, rector of the St. Roch's Church in Minsk, spoke about myths surrounding priests, how console games help save on museum tickets, why priests need social media accounts, and why the vow of celibacy is not about suffering, but about freedom.
Father-Canon Yury Sanko, parish priest of the Most Holy Trinity (St. Roch) parish on Zalataya Horka in Minsk, agreed to answer naive questions about church life for "Tochka".
No Meat on Fridays
Do priests fast every day for their entire lives?
“No. They don't eat anything at all,” jokes the interlocutor.
Yury Sanko sarcastically notes that the myth of lifelong fasting among the clergy originated thanks to the folk idiom “ABC” — “one granny said” (a saying indicating gossip/unverified information).
In reality, Catholic priests adhere to entirely reasonable food traditions. The parish priest himself restricts his food intake only on obligatory days.
“Every Catholic must fast on Fridays and other prescribed days. For example, on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. And so, throughout the year, every Friday we observe a meatless fast,” he explains.
The priest is confident that fasting should not be a punishment for a person. A believer has the right to choose it consciously. Especially if such a decision has a specific goal, for example, helping a neighbor.
Priests on TikTok
Doesn't it contradict Christian values for Catholic priests to dance to trends and film entertaining videos on social media?
According to the interlocutor, anyone can create an account, but it's important to understand the purpose of their presence in the media space.
“The main message is evangelization. So that we don't just dance, but carry the faith of Christ and show that we are ordinary people who grew up in similar families,” he points out.
The priest himself also has an account — the “Pax TV” project, which is managed by an entire team. Some videos on it garner millions of views.
Поделитесь благословением с близкими людьми Подписывайтесь на @pax_tv_official, чтобы укреплять и развивать свою веру!
Detectives and Assassin's Creed
It became interesting to learn how modern priests relate to popular mass entertainment.
It turned out that Father Yury also finds time for usual leisure — TV series and video games — although due to high workload, he rarely gets to rest.
“I have a game console, several games on my phone. Sometimes, when I find the time, I watch TV series — mainly historical ones or detective stories,” says the interlocutor.
Among the priest's favorite console games is the popular Assassin's Creed, dedicated to the centuries-old confrontation between two secret organizations: the Assassins and the Templars.
“There you don't have to pay five euros to enter the Florence Cathedral,” shares the parish priest, offering a life hack.
Snoring Means Meditating
We also discuss curious situations that can happen during worship. For example, what to do if a parishioner suddenly falls asleep and snores right during Mass.
Father Yury treats this with understanding and humor, noting that it most often happens during the sermon.
“The main thing is not to wake him up abruptly to avoid stress. If he snores, it means he's meditating. In small churches, like mine, it's visible, because everything is in plain sight,” he comments.
A parishioner might have come tired after work, and the church became the only place where he could calm down and rest. Father Yury jokingly adds: it would be truly offensive if the priest himself fell asleep during his own sermon.
There is a stereotype that priests are almost sinless and never feel anger or irritation. Can priests swear out loud or in thought when they can't manage their emotions?
Father Yury admits that priests are also human, but he considers breaking down on a person to be the worst thing in ministry. Bad thoughts can appear in anyone, but the main thing is to stop them in time, not allowing temptation to turn into sin.
“Anything can happen, and for that, thank God, there is confession. It's the best opportunity to stand in truth, confess, and improve oneself,” reflects the priest.
Virtual Faith and Paganism with a Taste of Christianity
Today, online one can find broadcasts of services and even light candles in online chapels. How does Father Yury feel about Belarusians' attempts to bless kulich (Easter cake), water, or an Easter meal online?
“Performing rituals without spirituality is simply paganism with a taste of Christianity. Is the blessing or the solemnity more important to us? Where is love, where is faith, where is compassion and mutual understanding?” — the priest asks rhetorical questions.
According to our interlocutor, all these remote rituals are an attempt to simplify life and avoid going to church.
But thoughtless performance of rituals turns faith into mere superstition.
Vow of Celibacy
The next question touched upon one of the most well-known topics in Catholicism — celibacy.
The priest explains that this is a centuries-old church tradition. It allows the priest to fully dedicate himself to God and people, and also frees him from complex administrative concerns of supporting a family when moving to a new parish.
But the prohibition on marriage does not apply in all branches of Catholicism.
“There is the Greek-Catholic Church, where priests can marry. If a young man understands from the start that he wants to marry, he chooses this rite, undergoes training, and finds a life partner,” says the priest.
Is Confession Anonymous?
Does Father Yury recognize his parishioners by voice during confession, and how do priests manage to detach from personal feelings towards a person?
The priest confirmed that a priest indeed has very keen hearing. It's almost impossible to hide one's identity behind the confessional screen, as everyone knows each other in a small parish, but this does not affect the interaction.
“A priest is not a judge, and he has no right to condemn, no matter how grave the sins. His role is to support the person on the path of awareness and to bless them for further improvement,” notes the priest-canon.
Comfortable Without a Cassock Too
Many believe that priests wear strict vestments around the clock, so their image in ordinary jeans or shorts often breaks stereotypes in the minds of parishioners.
Father Yury, however, admits that he regularly changes his cassock for secular clothing. According to him, priests can wear shorts or sports attire, but it's always important to remember their status — it's more crucial to monitor words and behavior than clothing.
People are often surprised and delighted to see a priest in civilian clothes, but Father Yury himself feels confident in any attire.
“I am equally comfortable in secular clothes and in a cassock. I can calmly walk around the city or ride the subway, play football — what do I have to be ashamed of?” he explains.
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