L’viv (“L’vov” in Russian, “Lwow” in Polish, “Leopolis” in Greek) was founded in 1256 by Prince Danylo -- one of the rulers of Kyivan Rus’ many principalities -- who named the city after his son, Lev (”lion”). After many wars and changes of power, the city eventually became part of the Austro-Hungarian empire where it was known as “Lemberg.” Having never been part of the Russian Empire, L’viv was swallowed by the Soviet Union (along with the rest of western Ukraine) in 1939 when Hitler and Stalin divided what was known as Poland at that point.

Today L’viv -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- retains much of its western influence with an atmosphere and architecture quite different from that of Kyiv and other parts of central and eastern Ukraine. This difference is also evident in religious life with a very significant Roman Catholic influence. L’viv is in many ways the metropolitan center of Ukrainian patriotism and nationalism, and functions as a significant cultural and intellectual center for all of Ukraine.

L’viv currently has no Presbyterian or Reformed church of any kind, although there are a number of Protestant congregations that generally display a significant spirit of cooperation. Most of the city’s almost 1 million inhabitants are outwardly very religious; but do people truly understand what Jesus Christ accomplished for us in his life and death and resurrection...?