“Finding the Spirit” Video: Images of Religious Freedom in Ukraine

​When I first traveled to Ukraine in March 2022, my mission wasn't rooted in religion, at least not initially. My primary concern was to draw attention to the fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the environmental catastrophe it posed. It wasn’t until I was preparing for the trip that I first heard about the Ukrainian Catholic Church. It happened during a conversation with Gene Yee, the REI salesman helping me choose a backpack. Before I knew it, I found myself praying with Fr. Yaroslav Nalysnyk at Christ the King UCC in Jamaica Plain, as he called down a guardian angel to protect me on my journey.

This 6-minute video features Christians in Lviv, Kyiv, Bucha, and Vinnytsia.

​That's how the people I interviewed for my two, soon-to-be three, films about Ukraine ended up in the project—through the Spirit’s guiding force. None of them are famous or powerful, but they all speak with a powerful voice, and the Spirit of Ukraine shines through them.

I hope their testimonies will help dispel the widespread disinformation about a supposed lack of religious freedom in Ukraine, something I’ve never witnessed. Of course, the schism within the Orthodox Church in Ukraine has a political dimension, which is a different matter altogether. Arresting spy priests is something America also dealt with during its revolution when handling Church of England clergy. In times of war, if you’re praying for the enemy or actively aiding them in non-clerical ways, ostracization and legal consequences are to be expected.

Gene Yee and Fr. Yaroslav at Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church

For American Christians, particularly Evangelicals, the focus seems to be on how Protestants are being treated in Ukraine. Addressing that concern is a key goal of the next film “Beyond Bucha”.

​Here's a brief description of the clips in order:

​Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Kyiv
The segment opens with a shot of the cathedral, accompanied by commentary from Fr. Roman Nebozhuk. We then see children taking communion. The church provided not just meals and shelter but also spiritual sustenance during the initial attacks on Kyiv through to today. He also briefly discusses the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO).

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​German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kyiv
A quick exterior shot of the church is followed by a scene of a woman presiding over a service.

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​Church of God’s Glory outside Lviv
We meet Pastor Regetsiy Oleh, who leads an Evangelical church in Kharkiv. Forced to flee to Lviv with his wife and son, he leads an online service for his dispersed congregation.

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​Lviv Church of the Holy Trinity
This segment takes us to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine/Reformed Church in Ukraine, where we meet Doug Shepherd, the long-time pastor originally from Texas. He leads a Bible study session with a packed group of young people and gives us a tour of the church. The segment begins with a service that will feel familiar to many viewers.

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​Nursery School Mom and Teacher in Kyiv
In these interviews with a nursery school mom and teacher in Kyiv they discuss their faith and Christian upbringing.

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​Jul’s Coffee Shop in Bucha
Here we meet Julia, one of the film’s stars, who shares her faith journey. She was raised in the Orthodox Church.

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​St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church in Bucha
At this iconic church, the site of a mass grave in Bucha, we witness Father Andrey leading an outdoor Good Friday service in 2022. The following year, we join him for an underground service and interview at the church.

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​Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Vinnytsia
We visit the first church in Ukraine to formally break away from the Moscow Patriarchate to become part of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

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​A Small Village Orthodox Church Outside Vinnytsia
The video concludes with a scene of a village priest showing us his Bible as he carefully puts away his vestments.

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​This 6-minute video showcases some of the most poignant expressions of faith from the "Back to Bucha" film, shot in 2023 in Lviv, Kyiv, and Bucha, along with some footage from Vinnytsia captured earlier this year (2024). The film’s editor and associate producer, Amit Nepali, carefully assembled these clips from many hours of footage. He’s also a rare Nepali Christian, having been born and raised in a Christian family by converted Nepali Hindus. His father is an Anglican priest in Nepal. Amit’s selections for these clips reflect his deep connection to the footage and the unique Christian perspective he brings to the project.

And, oh yeah, he also wrote the music. 

Amit Nepali at his studio in Kathmandu