A new group has been formed in Austria for about 30 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Ukraine.
After armed conflict began in Ukraine in early 2022, many Ukrainians went to other countries around Europe for refuge.
Now the first group for Ukrainian Saints has been founded in the Church’s Europe Central Area, reported the Church’s Austria Newsroom. It is a part of the Döbling Ward (English) in the Vienna Austria Stake.
Groups are small authorized gatherings of members overseen by a bishop, branch president or mission president. The stake or mission president may recommend creating a group for a few reasons, including if a small number of members speak a language that is different than others in the ward or branch.
When a group qualifies, the stake or mission president may propose for it to become a branch.
On Nov. 19, Vadym Chemariev was sustained as the group leader for the new Ukrainian group in the Döbling Ward. He will report to and assist Bishop Johnny R. Banban.
The Ukrainian members have been meeting to worship God together for a year in Vienna. Ukrainian-speaking missionaries have been helping with the services. Support also comes from many local members who help facilitate the music or take on other functions.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, members from Austria have been organizing and supporting aid projects. At the beginning, this help consisted of many transports of donations from local members and their friends, says the report. The Church in Austria also offers German classes for the community and supports up to 100 people.
Church members around Europe and around the world have been giving aid to Ukraine since 2022 through organizing and delivering supplies and providing spiritual and emotional relief — even opening their homes.
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have ministered in Ukraine or to Ukrainian Latter-day Saints living in other countries, including Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf in Poland in April 2022, President Jeffrey R. Holland in Germany in November 2022 and Elder Quentin L. Cook speaking to Ukrainians from Latvia in September 2022. Elder Cook traveled to Ukraine in October 2023.
