MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Coming soon The world and everything in it: Russia and religion.
Two years ago this Saturday, Russia invaded Ukraine.
For the Ukrainian people, the cost of war is in human lives and material, but there is also a spiritual cost. Russia has destroyed hundreds of religious buildings, including nearly 200 Ukrainian Orthodox churches. That’s according to last year’s report from Mission Eurasia, the church’s advocacy group.
What is the role of Christian churches in this war?
Sergey Rakhuba joins us now to talk about it. He is originally from Ukraine and is president of the Eurasia Mission.
Sergey, it’s good to have you back on the program.
SERGEY RAKHUBA: It’s a pleasure to be on your show, you guys, you know, so thank you.
REICHARD: First, let’s do some background. The official religion of Russia is Russian Orthodoxy, part of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Russia claims to reunify Ukraine with its religious roots. What is Ukraine’s relationship with the Orthodox Church?
RAKHUBA: You know, there are actually two Orthodox Churches, two branches: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which split from the Russian Orthodox Church when the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine wanted to become independent. And they wanted to have an independent church and be part of the Orthodox family community of the world. They wanted to go to Constantinople, where the main seat is located and where the universal patriarch Bartholomew is located. Russia, of course, did not want to accept it. So they believe that the Ukrainian Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is the only good entity for Ukraine. When they invaded and took over all these parts of eastern Ukraine, of course, they brought their ideology – the ideology of the Russian world if you’ve heard that definition. So this is where they only recognize Russian Orthodox Christianity. So other Orthodox Churches of Ukraine, Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, of any kind of faith, except Muslims, by the way they play games, you know, so they are trying to oppress.
REICHARD: Tell us about religious freedom in Ukraine before the Russian invasion.
RAKHUBA: I can tell you, you know, being Ukrainian and working in Ukraine, I lived in Russia for many years, you know, but I also closely monitor religious freedom issues in the countries of the former Soviet Union, I can tell you, there is no more religious freedom than in Ukraine before the arrival of Russia. So when the Soviet Union collapsed, Ukraine was producing or sending more missionaries than any other country in Europe. In every town in Siberia, Mary, there were Ukrainian missionaries sent by Ukraine, Baptist, Pentecostal, charismatic, you know, independent, you know, so they had this missionary vision of going to transform Russia, Siberia, for Christ.
REICHARD: You mention that Russia oppresses believers who are not part of the Russian Orthodox Church. What would happen if Russia took over Ukraine?
RAKHUBA: This is what terrifies everyone. Our director for religious freedom at the Eurasia Mission, he was in the occupied territory, he’s one of the pastors of one of the churches that were seized, he was detained, arrested, interrogated, you know, subjected to pressure, death threats, etc. on. So he objected to that and finally, you know, so they just kicked him out, kicked him out, you know. So, and he says if Russia takes over Ukraine, it will happen everywhere. The first thing they’ll try to do is remove the Church, the community of faith, which still has, you know, a more open opinion, you know, on issues, you know, and these congregations and their leaders, they have spiritual power, leadership power in our congregations and communities. And that’s what they will do, quite simply, is oppress and try to eliminate any other religious community, or non-Orthodox religious communities, throughout the country.
REICHARD: Last question here. What signs of hope do you see?
RAKHUBA: Hope is therefore in the Church which rises in the middle of this crisis, in the middle of this war, from the ashes of destruction, economic, humanitarian and spiritual. You know, there are thousands and tens of thousands of volunteers helping people, whether they are oppressed refugees or displaced people. And I, I’m so involved in it, you know, so we’ve trained ourselves, you know, over 3,000 young Christian volunteers who are working around the clock, helping people, those who are in need because of of this war. If Ukraine wins this war, we all hope so, and if the Church gets involved in the transformation and rebuilding and rebuilding, you know, evangelizing this community. By the way, Mary, there is another fact. So there is tremendous growth in the Church in times of war. I can tell you stories, the church’s numbers have doubled and tripled because of all their outreach programs to so many people in need in the community, so the community is starting to recognize. And with a tremendous outpouring from all over the world, but especially from the Church of America, the Ukrainian Church that is using this aid, they are making a huge difference in transforming the lives of people who are in the needed in such an incredible crisis of war in Ukraine now.
REICHARD: Sergey Rakhuba is president of the Eurasia Mission and is originally from Ukraine. Thank you so much. Enjoy your time!
RAKHUBA: Thank you. Thank you, Mary.
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