Ukraine’s Church in Civilizational Crisis

St. Mikhail Church in Kyiv continues to pray for the Ukrainian army, the nation's territorial integrity, and civilians following the 2022 Russian invasion. Despite these prayers, the Ukrainian government views the church as a branch of Russian influence.

Paul Howard reports that the church remains committed to defending Ukraine while caught in a cultural conflict. This tension exists as Ukrainian authorities work to shape a European identity by removing Russian cultural elements. Recent actions include renaming Lev Tolstoy Square to the Square of Ukrainian Heroes, removing Pyotr Tchaikovsky's name from the National Music Academy of Ukraine, and removing authors such as Dostoevsky, Pushkin, and Tolstoy from school reading lists and libraries.