Mary did you know that your name would be elevated over Christ?
Did you know people would pray to you instead of your son?
Did you know your face would fill churches?
Did you know your Father’s house was being corrupted?
Did you know thousands would gather in your name?
Mary, what would you say?
Yesterday in our region of Ukraine, the Orthodox Church, whose beliefs and practices are not to be mistaken with the Catholic church’s, was having a day completely dedicated to Mary. I saw hikers passing through, making their pilgrimage to this grandiose place to be prayed for and blessed.
As my team and I wrapped up ministry for this month, our host family took us to see the church and observe the events taking place.
We began the uphill trek to the church, passing by tents selling clothes and other goods, beggars with outstretched boxes and priests with long black robes and large crucifixes filling the walkway.
The dress code to enter required skirts below the knee, covered elbows and head coverings, so we paid the church to rent what was needed.
Guards awaited us at the gate and once we were through, my eyes widened at the extravagant sight before me.
If Hogwarts had been a religious school, they would have filmed the movie here. The pictures seen below don’t do this place justice in terms of beauty.
Pictures were not allowed inside the buildings, but every room was the epitome of ornate. Large portraits and paintings of Jesus and Mary covered the walls and walkways that were laced with gold trimmings going all the way up to the highest of high ceilings.
Despite the pristine detail and beauty before me, my heart was broken.
When we first entered the gate, there was a designated area to write down your sins and pay for prayer.
People were going through the rooms kissing pictures and altars of Jesus’ feet and Mary’s face a fixed number of times, hoping that would do the trick for what they came for.
Parents were bringing their sick and disabled children from miles and miles away and paying for priests to pray for their child.
I will never be able to erase the image and sounds of a priest chanting the scariest of prayers over a little special needs girls while tapping a crucifix against her chest.
Jesus would not have found this place beautiful. Jesus would have flipped tables.
So as I reflect on what an incredible month I had in Ukraine, I reflect also on why ministry is somewhat difficult here.
Protestants churches are considered cults by many in our region of Ukraine, and after talking and sharing the Gospel with an older Orthodox man, he said that he doesn’t like the Protestant churches because they don’t pray to Mary.
It’s amazing how the enemy twists and deceives.
Like so many other things, he used someone wonderful and purposeful like Mary to deceive hearts and minds.
The people I saw in the church are so close to the truth.
They know who Jesus is, know what he did on the cross, but don’t know the love and freedom He died to give them.
Nonetheless, the Lord knows their hearts better than we ever could and is using deep, long-fought relational ministry to bring people to Christ.
As month one ends, I leave Ukraine knowing that the Lord has amazing believers stewarding the good news of the Gospel across the country.
And because of that, I greatly anticipate the revival bound for this nation.
*Please note that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a branch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The church is not connected to modern day Catholicism and its practices.
