Where is God During War? A Conversation with a Ukrainian Priest

The sirens went off early in the morning. We left our hotel room and walked down flights of stairs into the basement. We were told there was a missile headed toward Lviv. Russian missiles are sent every day, but there was something about this missile that was worrisome and not easily shot down. We waited in the locker room of the hotel until we were told the missile was no longer a threat and we could go about our business. Later, when I asked about the intended destination of the missile, I was told it was headed for a shopping area.

But what about people who don’t have locker rooms to hide in? Where do they go? Where do people go that are walking down the street during an invasion? They go to church.

Churches in Ukraine have withstood a chaotic past. Many churches throughout Ukraine can trace their history to the 12th century. Houses of worship have withstood World Wars, famine, rebellions, and Soviet occupation. Every church throughout the world should offer a place of peace and refuge for all people. And this is the case applicably found in Ukraine. Throughout Ukraine, when the air raid sirens blare, the church is open. Everyone is welcomed to find safety.

While in Western Ukraine, far from where the war rages, we visited many beautiful churches. Much like the rest of Europe, old churches can be explored. I always love visiting churches when I visit Europe. I find European church architecture fascinating and beautiful. In the United States, finding a church dating back to the 1700s seems so old. It pales in comparison to the churches in Europe that date back centuries before our earliest churches.

While we were walking around St. Georges Cathedral in Lviv, I met Father Michael, one of the priests in the church. There was a question that was on my mind in every church I visited, and I had to ask.

Where is God during the Ukraine War?

Father Michael exhaled and nodded with a sad expression, then answered with sincerity. “We say God is always with us. Even when it’s hard. (Gesturing with his hands) He’s here. He’s in this place right now. God is love and is present with us and we believe it. So, we ask, ‘Why is war? Why is there war?’ It’s because there is evil in the world. But we pray every day to God. We ask Him for help. To help our people. So, the question, ‘where is god?’ God is everywhere all the time. We believe this. We feel Him. Those people, the soldiers that are in Eastern Ukraine fighting in the war; God is with them. We know God is with them. And they tell us He is. Some people who are there fighting for us, they say that they didn’t believe before. But now that they are fighting, they believe. They say they didn’t believe in God, but even in the middle of fighting in the war, they say, ‘God is here. He’s with us.’ Everybody is praying and asking our God to help and to feel His presence.”

I asked Father Michael what he says to those that are struggling with faith during this time, and he answered, “Having Faith is difficult. Especially for young people. Every day, we have rockets sent at us. It can be tough. It can be scary. Often, praying can be hard, but praying is the foundation of faith. We say to people who are not believing, to ‘Go with God.’ We believe this. Go with Him and pray. Be with Him. It’s hard. That is what faith is. Go through it even when it’s hard. Even when you have trouble believing. Pray.”

It’s fitting that church is a place for refuge for everyone looking for a safe space. Church should have always been a safe place. I brought this up to Father Michael, and he responded, “We have special space for all people. This is a place of safety. We are going forward until we are finished. When that is? We don’t know. But we pray and ask God to help us finish.”

Seeing buildings that have been bombed by the Russians and watching the tragic news coming out of Eastern Ukraine, I can understand why anyone struggles with faith. There’s a struggle with faith, even without war. But I think believers and non-believers can agree that the church should always be a place where one can find safety and feel welcomed. Not all churches and Christians do that, and that is an injustice. Ukraine has figured that out. That it doesn’t matter who you are, what you believe, or what your standing in life is, the church doors are open for everyone looking for safety.

We’ve seen footage in Odessa and Kyiv, where shells of churches stand. Where people gathered, hoping to find a safe place, but the buildings still fell. Escaping evil is not always possible. And we can still ask, “Where is God when that happens?” Father Michael answered that question that God is always there. I should have asked Father Michael “Why” instead of “Where.” I wish I would have had that conversation, but that is something I don’t believe there is an answer for. It’s one I struggle with daily. How can a loving and all-powerful god allow us to suffer? But I find solace in what Father Michael answered with the question, “where is God?” It’s easy to blame the horrors of the world on evil people and consequences to human free will. But for those who believe don’t have to encounter evil alone. That, I think, is what the church is and should be. A place where people don’t have to feel alone during a battle.

Our Ukrainian host with the Lviv government organized our trip to show that Ukraine is open for tourism. We felt completely safe throughout our time in the Lviv Oblast region. We had many sumptuous meals and were entertained throughout our time. (Follow Lviv’s tourism  Instagram and Facebook accounts for more information)

Our American/Ukrainian contact, Sasha Vosk, was born in Ukraine and looks to help build Ukraine through tourism. He founded the organization, Rebuild Ukraine Foundation, to help build up the Ukrainian economy and help inform the world of all that Ukraine offers. One doesn’t need to wait till the end of the war to visit the country. It’s ready for tourists now.

I also visited Ukraine with Joshua Brandenburg, a photographer from New York City. You can visit his website here and follow him on Instagram here. 

Hear are more stories abour our time in Ukraine:
Where is God During War: A conversation with a Ukrainian Priest
15 Reasons to Visit Western Ukraine Now
Defeating Darkness with Art: Touring Park 3020
Getting Naked in Ukraine
Rebuilding Ukraine by Rebuilding Children’s Lives: My interview with the staff of SOS 
Emily Resort and Spa in Lviv, Ukraine is a Luxury Paradise with Family-Friendly Activities 
Visiting Ukraine During the War 
Representing America in the Back of a Taxi in Ukraine 
Promoting Tourism in Ukraine During the War   
Visiting Ukraine During the War
Snowboarding in Ukraine
Tips for Americans Visiting Ukraine
Visiting Truskavets’ Healing Springs and Spas
Horseback Riding in the Carpathian Mountains
Visiting Kamianets-Podilkskyi: Remembering the Past and Building to a Better Future
The Show Must Go On: The Lviv Opera House is Open Despite the War
Traditional Ukrainian Drink Uzvar Recipe
Kyiv Mule Cocktail Recipe