to
uKRAINE
Gabriela pulled her hat tightly over her head as she stepped outside
into the cold winter air in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital city. Her hosts told her
to bring warm clothes when she came here, and she was really glad she
listened. In winter the average temperature is only 21 degrees! But
Gabriela was more than willing to brave the cold to explore this amazing
city. More than 1,500 years old, it is rich in history — even if most of the
buildings appear relatively modern. During World War II, Kiev was
largely destroyed, but since then new buildings have sprung up and
monuments built to remember Ukraine’s history. Gabriela was amazed
at the many Orthodox cathedrals with their elaborate paintings, onionshaped domes, and tall bell towers that dotted the streets. Kiev lies along
the Dnipro River. Gabriela heard that during the summer many people
flock to the beach. But on this winter day, she hardly believed such a
thing was possible! In the coming days, she planned to go outside
Kiev and get a firsthand view of village life. In Ukraine, farming is very
important, and the rich soil can grow almost any crop. That’s why the
nation was once called “the breadbasket of Europe.” For her final stop,
Gabriela looked forward to visiting Crimea, a peninsula in southern
Ukraine along the Black Sea. The area is known for its grape vineyards,
rugged seaside cliffs, and warmer temperatures. Gabriela could hardly
wait!
THE COUNTRY
* The nation has lots of neighbors —
Russia to the north and east; Belarus
to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and
Hungary to the west; and Romania
and Moldova to the southwest. The
Black Sea forms its southern border.
part of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics. The Communist Party in
Russia made all decisions affecting
the country. Churches were closed,
schools taught only in Russian, and
businesses and farms were owned by
the government instead of citizens.
* The name Ukraine comes from the
Slavic word okraina, which means
“borderland.”
* Known for its freezing cold and
snow, Ukraine actually enjoys all four
seasons and can be quite warm in
*In 1986 the world’s worst nuclear
summer.
accident took place in the city of
Chernobyl. Ten tons of radioactive
* Two mountain ranges are located in
material — more than 10 times the
Ukraine — the Carpathian Mountains
amount released in the bombings of
in the southwest and the Crimean
World War II — spread out into the
Mountains on the Crimean Peninsula.
atmosphere over surrounding
The Carpathians are much higher and
countries. Since then thousands
draw snow skiers in winter.
of Ukrainians have died of
radiation poisoning, and thousands
* From 1922 to 1991, Ukraine was
more struggle with diseases caused
by the aftermath.
* Ukraine’s land area is 233,090
square miles, slightly smaller than
Texas.
* On the flag, the blue stripe
represents the sky; the yellow
stripe, the nation’s golden fields.
* Ukraine’s currency is called the
hryvna. About five hryvna equals
one U.S. dollar.
* Ukraine’s capital is Kiev.
According to legend, three Slavic
princes started settlements beside
the Dnipro River. The settlements
eventually merged into one community called Kiev named after the
oldest brother, Kiy.
THE PEOPLE
have an Orthodox cathedral. The Tatars
of Crimea are Muslim and follow the
* Ukraine’s population is 46,299,862 — teachings of Islam.
about twice that of Texas.
* The official language is Ukrainian, but
most people also speak Russian.
* Ukrainian is written in the Cyrillic
alphabet. Developed by Christian
missionaries, Cyril and Methodius, in
the ninth century, this alphabet uses a
series of characters that represent
specific sounds.
* At special festivals, Ukrainians often
dress in traditional costumes. Women
wear embroidered blouses and skirts.
Men wear embroidered shirts, fulllegged trousers tied at the ankles, and
bright red or black boots.
DID YOU KNOW?
HIDDEN MEANINGS
Ukrainians often use sayings to
emphasize important messages. What
do you think these sayings mean?
1. A friendly word is better than a
heavy cake.
2. He who licks knives will soon cut his
tongue.
3. Only when you have eaten a lemon
* Several Orthodox churches in the
do you appreciate what sugar is.
Carpathian Mountains of southwestern
4. You don’t really see the world if you
Ukraine have survived nearly 500 years
only look through your own window.
— even though they are made of wood.
5. Your head is not only for putting a
hat on.
* In the Carpathian Mountain area,
people once made horns, called
trembitas, by hollowing out the trunks of
birch trees. These horns, some up to 10
feet long, were used to send messages to
neighboring villages.
* Visitors to the Nikitsky Botanical
Garden in Crimea can see a pistachio
tree that is 1,000 years old.
THE ASSEMBLIES OF
GOD IN UKRAINE
* The traditional instrument of Ukraine
is the bandura (bahn-DOO-rah). Re* A Ukrainian tradition is to greet guests
sembling both a guitar and a harp, it can with a loaf of bread topped by a mound Christians in Ukraine suffered during
have 45 to 60 strings.
of salt. This symbol meant that guests
the years of communist control. Many
were welcome to share all the host had. were sent to die in concentration camps
in Siberia. But even in hardship, they
* If you are ever invited to someone’s
shared the gospel and helped keep a
home, remember your manners. Don’t
Christian testimony alive until freedom
shake hands across a doorway and
came.
always take off your shoes before entering. If you bring flowers to the hostess, Today the Pentecostal fellowship in
make sure you bring an odd number.
Ukraine numbers more than 150,000
(Even numbers are for funerals.)
believers who attend some 3,000
churches. A
Pentecostal
seminary in
Kiev draws
Since Ukrainian is written in Cyrillic characters, the words
students from
and phrases below have been adjusted to English
* Soccer is the favorite sport, but
several
pronunciation.
Ukraine is also known for its emphasis
countries
on gymnastics.
who want
Hello
pry-vit
to prepare
Good-bye
do po-BA-chen-nya for ministry.
* Bread plays an important role in
Thank you
DYA-ku-yu
Ukrainian life. As a traditional custom,
Outreaches to
My
name
is
me-NE
zva-ty
a bride’s family presents the new couple
the sick and
Yes
tak
with a korovai — a round loaf of bread
homeless have
No
ni
topped by doves and tree branches made
opened doors
Banana
ba-NAN
of dough. The bread represents long life
to share the
Apple
YA-blu-ko
and many children.
gospel with
Bread
khlib
many people.
Ice cream
mo-RO-zy-vo
* The majority of Ukrainians follow the
Orthodox religion, and even tiny villages
UKRAINIAN WORDS
Ukrainian Things to Do:
Pysanka
2. Have one girl put her right foot
into an elastic band, adjusting it
around her ankle. The opposite girl
Ukraine is famous for its
will put her left foot into the same
elaborately painted eggs, called
band.
pysanka (PEA-sahn-kah). While
3. Repeat with another band around
most eggs are quite intricate, you
the opposite ankles.
can make a simpler version.
4. The rest of the girls will now jump
between the posts three times, trying
You will need
to accomplish these actions: both feet
A hard-boiled or wooden egg
in the center between the two bands;
A wax pencil
one foot in the center and the other
Waterproof paint
outside the first band; and one foot in
Paintbrush
the center and the other outside the
Hot water
second band.
Cloth for drying
5. If a player fails to the do the
jumps, she is out.
What to do
6. If a player manages to do the
1. Use a wax pencil to draw a design jumps, the posts move the bands
on the egg.
higher on their legs and the process
2. Paint the entire egg. (The paint
repeats.
will not adhere to the wax design.) 7. In Ukraine, some girls get so good
Let dry.
at the game that the bands are moved
3. Dip the egg in hot water to melt nearly as high as the posts’ waists!
away the wax design. Carefully rub
with a cloth until the wax is gone.
4. Paint the design.
Resynochki
Resynochki, or “rubber bands,” is
a traditional party game. Try this
variation — it’s not as easy as it
sounds!
You will need
Two long, thick elastic bands
What to do
1. Choose two girls to stand
facing each other, standing far
enough away so that only their
fingers touch when their arms are
outstretched. They are the two
“posts.”
What to do
1. In a Dutch oven or large pot,
bring water to a boil.
2. Add beets, celery, and onion.
Cover and reduce heat to simmer
30 to 40 minutes.
3. Add salt and dill.
4. Ladle soup into bowls. Top each
with a spoonful of sour cream.
5. Serves eight or nine people.
Ukrainian Honey Balls
You will need
1 stick margarine
4 cups flour
1 cup honey
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
Walnut halves
What to do
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Using a pastry blender, cut
margarine into flour until crumbly.
3. Heat honey in microwave (50
percent power) until bubbly. Stir
into butter/flour mixture.
Borsch
4. Add sour cream, eggs, baking
About 300 variations of borsch (beet soda, and baking powder.
soup) are served in Ukraine, but here 5. Knead dough until smooth, adding flour if necessary — 1 tableis a basic recipe.
spoon at a time — until dough is no
longer sticky.
You will need
6. Roll small portions of dough
3 quarts (12 cups) water
3 pounds beets, peeled and cut into into balls. Place on greased cookie
sheet.
chunks
7. Press a walnut half in the center
1 cup celery, chopped
of each ball.
1 onion, sliced
8. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until
One-eighth teaspoon salt
golden. Cool on wire rack.
2 tablespoons chopped dill
9. Makes approximately four dozen
One-fourth cup sour cream
cookies.
Ukrainian Foods