As Russia launched an invasion of their country Thursday morning, a group of Ukrainian citizens gathered in a circle to kneel in an outdoor prayer in a powerful moment that was broadcast to the world on CNN and then went viral on social media.
The prayer circle was formed shortly after sunrise, mere hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his country's military was attacking Ukraine.
The CNN video shows about six individuals kneeling in prayer in an outdoor area in Kharkiv, the second-most populous city in Ukraine. The group did not know they were on television.
CNN's Clarissa Ward said the moment was inspiring to watch.
"A small group of people have gathered in the main square, and they are kneeling and praying – because right now there is truly a sense of having no idea what is coming down the pipeline, what is in store for the people of Ukraine in the coming hours in the coming days," Ward said on CNN as the video was broadcast.
"And it's freezing cold here," Ward added. "So to see these people kneeling on the cold stone in prayer is, honestly, it's very moving. ... And I think it speaks to the state of ordinary Ukrainians here who have done absolutely nothing to deserve this."
The video quickly went viral, gathering more than 200,000 views shortly after being posted on Twitter.
CNN's Clarissa Ward reports from Kharkiv, Ukraine, where she witnesses a group of people gather to kneel and pray in the town square in the hours following Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a military operation in Ukraine https://t.co/h2PihF08i8 pic.twitter.com/efXZkWoPs6
— CNN (@CNN) February 24, 2022
"This is just heartbreaking. Big prayers for everyone," one person wrote on CNN's timeline.
"Lord, please intervene and guide and protect the people of Ukraine," another person wrote.
Ukraine is one of the most Christian countries in Europe, according to writer Joel C. Rosenberg as quoted in the Jerusalem Post. About 78 percent of its 43 million citizens are members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – an increase from 39 percent in 1991. About 10 percent are Roman Catholic and 2 percent evangelical.
"Let's be praying faithfully and without ceasing for the Church in Ukraine to be brave and bold in their witness for Christ," Rosenberg wrote.
Related:
4 Things Christians Should Know about the Situation in Ukraine
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/LumiNola
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
