Forthcoming Book Chronicles the Horrors of War on Ukrainian Christians

By Valenyn Syniy

I was born in Ukraine during the communist regime of the Soviet Union. As a member of an evangelical Christian family, I was told from a young age that we were part of a “sect”—second-class citizens. We were repeatedly warned that we would not be allowed to attend universities, receive higher education, or travel abroad.

I vividly remember how, after the collapse of the USSR, a seminary—Tavriski Christian Institute (TCI)—was founded in our city. Partnerships soon developed with missionaries from Christian Churches. I graduated from TCI myself, and, together with pastors from the south of Ukraine, we served the wider community, strengthened local churches, and worked to build theological education, raising a new generation of ministers for the church and society.

I often think back to a course I took on the Old Testament at TCI. One of the professors from the United States emphasized that the Bible was written in the context of war and occupation among the people of Israel. At the time, this felt like mere background information—something historical and abstract. Today, through my own experience, those words have taken on a much deeper, more personal significance.

Perhaps the earliest voice to address the themes of war, persecution, and flight from religious oppression was Tertullian. His reflections, born in the crucible of the early church, remain strikingly relevant even now—though the causes and faces of modern wars may differ.

Throughout modern history, Christians have repeatedly returned to the themes of war, evil, and suffering in their writings and theological reflections. These contributions are vital to theology because theology must always stay rooted in lived experience. Many readers will be familiar with the powerful sermon by C. S. Lewis, Learning in War-Time, or Corrie ten Boom’s moving memoir, The Hiding Place. Such works show us how Christians can remain faithful to Christ, bear witness to His love, and resist darkness, even in the most difficult moments of history.

The book I am sharing with you now—Serving God Under Siege: How War Transformed a Ukrainian Community—tells the story of a person who became internally displaced in his own country after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is also the story of people I know personally. It is a story of determination and faith, of mutual support and courage amid chaos, fear, and uncertainty.

I understand that the war we are enduring today is not the first in human history—and sadly, it will not be the last.

I never considered myself a writer. But several circumstances led me to begin recording my memories.

Throughout 2022, friends and colleagues repeatedly urged me to write about the start of the war, the evacuation of TCI from Kherson to Ivano-Frankivsk, and the destruction of our seminary campus. Those who supported and helped us were especially insistent. At the time, it seemed inappropriate to be writing a memoir—there was urgent humanitarian aid to distribute. But in January 2023, I was invited to speak at the International Summit on Religious Freedom. One of the panels focused on the war in Ukraine and the atrocities committed by Russian soldiers against religious leaders. I was asked to speak briefly about the situation in Southern Ukraine. Afterward, a journalist strongly encouraged me to write down my memories, noting that many in the West have little understanding of what is truly happening—and rarely hear the voices of ordinary Ukrainians.

I also realized I had begun to forget details. I wanted to preserve them—if not for the public, then at least for my family.

Additionally, as a minister and pastor, I know how difficult it can be for those in ministry to reach out for psychological help. Writing this book became, for me, a kind of personal confession—an honest spiritual testimony from a grown man.

This book was conceived as a sincere story about what it means to be a displaced person in a modern world often marked by isolation and loneliness. It offers the perspective of an ordinary man—not a soldier, but a pastor and seminary president from Southern Ukraine. In its Ukrainian edition, the book bore the title A Man Whose Home Was Stolen: The Battle for Freedom. It became especially meaningful in Ukraine, particularly for those who have experienced forced migration and the loss of home.

The greatest tragedy of the war for me was the loss of my home and the destruction of the seminary campus, where I had served as rector for nineteen years.

While writing this book, I often asked myself: why does it hurt so much to lose my community, my city, and the people I grew up with—more so than the physical house itself? I found the answer in the dual meaning of the word “home.” One meaning refers to a place—a building, a piece of property. The other is much deeper: home as a space of communion, where one meets God and others. Like the Garden of Eden, it is a place where one is fully known and fully accepted. The war destroyed that second meaning of home.

I understand that these cultural and spiritual concepts may not be easy to communicate to a new audience. That is why I supported the editorial decision to retitle the English edition Serving God Under Siege—a title that more clearly communicates the heart of this book to a broader readership.

Please also take note of the illustrations throughout the book. Because confession often carries a somber tone, the illustrator and I chose to use black-and-white images. But to convey hope, each illustration includes one small color element—a symbol of light and faith in a better future.

The illustrator is also originally from Kherson. She went through the experience of displacement and now lives in Germany, while I remained in Ukraine. I chose her for this project because she understands the emotions that run through these pages on a deeply personal level.

I realize that the reality described in this book may differ from your own. Still, I hope that this honest narrative may help anyone searching for their way home—a true home where they are welcomed and allowed to be themselves. I also hope this book may encourage those processing the pain of loss.

War has taught me to cherish people. People are far more fragile than we think, and healing the human heart is much more difficult than rebuilding any wall.

May this story help you see that the war between Russia and Ukraine is, above all, a battle over values and worldview.

This book is not only my personal testimony—it is also a tribute to the courage and faithfulness of those who stood with us from the beginning: those who gave shelter, offered help, prayed for us, and protected others on the front lines. Your support is woven into every page. Your care gave us hope when we needed it most.

The book chronicles the many phases of our journey: the outbreak of war, daily hardships, evacuation, ongoing ministry, recovery, and renewed hope.

Dear readers, I would be sincerely grateful if you chose to support Ukrainian churches by purchasing a copy of Serving God Under Siege. It brings me deep comfort and encouragement to know that my testimony has found resonance in your hearts.

Valentyn Syniy serves as president of Tavriski Christian Institute in Ukraine.