The spirit of Ukrainian cities during wartime ― encountering Christ in the people

'Ukrainian youth are becoming a voice of hope in the world. They bear witness to their faith in the face of suffering and promote peace in areas of conflict. They show that even in the darkest of times, God is present among people,' — says Bishop Brian Baida, head of the Patriarchal Commission for Youth Affairs of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Read more about

The bishop's impressions of communicating with Ukrainian youth during the events marking the Jubilee Year in Rome, and his visits to parishes in various Ukrainian cities, in this interview with Bishop Brian.

 How would you describe the spirit of the Ukrainian cities you visited, especially in the context of the war?

Jesus Showed Me Where He Dwells

In the last 18 months the Father has taken me to encounter His Son Jesus in  Lviv, Novoyavorivsk, Vynnyky, Kyiv, Bucha, Irpin, Chernihiv, Nizhyn, Dnipro, Zaporishia, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, Ternopil, Zarvanytsya, Zazdrist and many other towns and villages. In Rome during the Jubilee I saw people that come from Lutsk, Kharkiv, Donetsk and places along the front. I would still love to meet those people where they have been enduring the war.  More specifically, I usually visited a parish, a school or training facility such as the “lisey” and almost always a Caritas center for social assistance. I see the good work of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, the Knights of Columbus, Mudra Sprava and many other organizations that are giving hope to the people. 

I have encountered Jesus in volunteers, teachers, children, religious sisters and brothers and clergy.  The cities are larger centers and the villages and farms are equally precious. Everywhere I went I encountered Christ, the suffering Body of Christ, in so many people that are good Samaritans. To keep all of these people in mind, I pray for them, look into their photos, text them, call them and try to stay in touch to hear of their progress.

My Crosses, Their Crosses Are The Cross We Bear with Christ

While marking the Feast of the Precious and Lifegiving Cross back in Canada on September 14, 2025, I invited parishioners to stand before the iconastasis holding the procession cross during the service. Everyone took turns for a couple of minutes with the processional cross.

 As they stood, they prayed for the grace to carry their personal crosses and the rest of the congregation prayed for them to receive this grace to bear their personal crosses. We remembered that we never carry our crosses alone. At the same time, the person standing with the processional cross was carrying the cross of the entire parish, the cross of everyone in the church, the communal cross, the cross of the Body of Christ. We remember that when we carry a personal cross it is truly the cross of others, and most importantly the Cross of Christ since He dwells in each of us as we bear these crosses together. We are never alone. 

The community assists us and this is when I would recall all those bearing their crosses in Ukraine along with those bearing their crosses in Canada. My crosses, their crosses are truly the single Cross we Bear with Christ. In addition to the Eucharist, bearing crosses together unites us in Christ.   

Year of Jubilee of Hope

This illustrates for me the theme of the Jubilee Year of Hope in Romans 5:1-5.

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ because we are justified by faith. Through faith, we have gained access to this grace, in which we now stand. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Furthermore, we boast in our sufferings, knowing that they produce endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint us because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

What was the most powerful moment for you personally during the celebration of the Youth Jubilee in Rome and Kyiv?

The Moment of Witness 

The most powerful moment for me was witnessing or seeing others witness. I was empowered by the witness of those from the Front in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world. I was empowered by seeing those listen to these testamonials of faith in God amid suffering. I was empowered to witness on stage with the music and song God gave me as well as from the pupit when preaching. But I must say that while in Kyiv, I was among the crowd when young adults witnessed to their encounter with Christ while in Rome. And it was at that moment that my motto on my Coat of Arms, which God gave me 17 years ago,  took flesh, “You will be my witnesses”. Acts 1:8

Do you see that Ukrainian youth today are becoming the “voice of Ukraine” in the world?

Youth Are Called To Be The Breath and Voice of God

To witness is a special moment. The Holy Spirit chooses you to speak on behalf of God and places in your heart what you are suppose to say. He gives you breath, and you become an instrument of the Holy Spirit like the Archangel Gabriel was an instrument of the Holy Spirit saying to the Mother of God, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with You.” This is more powerful than any material bullet or missile.

To be a voice of the Holy Spirit is to be the breath of life for others and this is the real gift. As instruments of the Holy Spirit, indeed, youth are the voice of Ukraine in the world today. They are the breath of Ukraine, the voice that praises God, the voice that cries out for mercy in the midst of unspeakable pain and suffering, the voice of courage and hope for others around the world who need hope, and the voice that pleads with God for the words to impart healing to families torn apart during the war. Amid the tornadoes and storms in the world today, the youth are the gentle breath of God spoken in every prayer to the Theotokos that calms the soul and says, “I am with You; Be not afraid; I suffer with you; I will nenver leave you; I Am the Bread of Life”.  Amid turmoil in the world today, the Youth of Ukraine help me catch my breath, my phycial breath and my spiritual breath. 

What message would you like to convey to Ukrainian youth after these meetings within the framework of the Youth Jubilee in Rome and Kyiv? 

Be still. Be still. Be still. God speaks in the silence. Listen for Voice of God in the preciouis moments of silence whenever you can find them. 

Martha was distracted and Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better portion. First, sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary did when He visited their house. Only then, aware of His presence and unspeakable love for you, should you go about doing the Will of God. Only then, with God beside you and aware of Him dwelling within you, can you do the Will of God with love. Like one who translates for a person speaking in words that are not understood by others, be the translator of God’s inner peace during a war that relentlessly tries to destroy the peace for which every human heart longs.  (Lk 10:38-42)  These are words that the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV repeats often. Peace. Rise to respond to the difficult challenges of war with a peace that world can not give. Defend the defenseless, but do all you can to respond not with hate or anger, but with the peace that comes from knowing God is present with you.