Russians and Ukrainians Worship Side by Side in Virginia Church

Every Sunday, dozens of Ukrainian and Russian Christian believers congregate at First Russian Baptist Church in Mount Crawford, Virginia. VOA’s Yahya Barzinji visited the church, spoke to congregants and filed this report narrated by Namo Abdulla.
Thousands of kilometers away from the Russian invasion of Ukraine stands a church, built 25 years ago in rural Virginia, where Ukrainian and Russian worshippers gather every Sunday for prayers.
Yari Suslaev, Ukrainian Staff Member of First Russian Baptist Church:
“We have come to worship God. The conflict in Ukraine grieves us a lot because we always considered ourselves as brothers and sisters and what is currently happening in Ukraine, between Russia and Ukraine, really grieves us a lot.”
Worshippers here at the First Russian Baptist Church in Mount Crawford, Virginia pray for a peaceful conclusion to the war but say most people are against the conflict.
Narina Dronov, Russian worshipper:
“There are people that really want this war. Majority of the people don’t. So, I don’t think this war is needed. I think there are many ways that we can overcome these differences. But because there are people that want it and those people are in power, it was unavoidable.”
Churchgoers here emphasized the need to focus on shared values and heritage.
The war is even more devastating for people with a mixed family background.
Vyasheslav Shesnoe, Ukrainian Worshipper:
“My mom is Russian, I was born in Ukraine, and I am married to a Belarusian. So, me personally, I am a combination of all these three nations. So, I can’t see me fighting with Russians and Russians fighting [against] Ukrainians which actually Putin have created. So, the thing is, for me as a believer... that we have to stand firm on the position, help those who are in need and create a peaceful environment.”
Anzhelika Yurshenko, Russian Worshiper:
“I think there is the opportunity for separation, but I think that we should focus on supporting each other even if we do come from different backgrounds. I believe that none of us wants this war, and that we should uphold each other, and we should support each other throughout no matter where we come from.”
On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine.
Thousands of people are reported to have been killed in Ukraine since, while more than two and a half million have fled to neighboring European nations.
Originally published at - www.voanews.com/a/russians-an...
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[@lxlx3458]

Peace!

[@pauldudde4914]

God. Bless Ukraine and Russia. We should pray for the end of. War in Ukraine and pray for. Peace .in Ukraine. Paul from india.

[@Jhossack]

Which one was Russian orthodox, as it’s a Catholic Church

[@triawillow1972]

Bless you all 🇺🇦🫶🇷🇺 #StandWithUkraine #StopPUTIN #FkPutinNotRussians

[@tigernature7020]

That's the meaning of it. ua-cam.com/video/Tw4AsxDtT0c/v-deo.html

[@filibuster_jpr]

We hope Germany and France will stop pushing Ukraine to join the taNos

[@user-bs6sx9lp5x]

No to nazism

[@markheithaus]

ua-cam.com/video/0uOiYnPT8OM/v-deo.html

[@FREDNAJAH]

stupid is as stupid does, passing around the blood of christ in cup to share in covid times.

[@infantry9903]

Why be a fuckin douchbag man? I don't believe in religion either but I don't go around giving people shit for what they believe in. You go ahead keep anonymously talking shit to people though cause I'm willing to bet you don't have the balls to say this shit to someone's face.

[@karenreaves3650]

Creator bless the Russian military and their families
.

[@Semper_Iratus]

Jim English 👈😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😂

[@markheithaus]

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[@ophiuchus992]

Just stop, stop

[@Caim6311]

What!?

[@Semper_Iratus]

It would have been so much easier to have just stayed out of natos sphere of influence. Now nato will do the bare minimum for propaganda purposes to help the Ukraine.