New Hope for Sabbath-Keeping Students in Ukraine

Back to News Archive

New Hope for Sabbath-Keeping Students in Ukraine
September 10, 2002 Kiev, Ukraine .... [Valery Ivanov/Rebecca Scoggins/ANN]

Ukrainian authorities have recommended that educational institutions schedule all major exams on weekdays rather than on Saturdays or Sundays, which are holy days for many religious groups.

The Voice of Truth (Golos Istiny), a Seventh-day Adventist periodical in eastern Ukraine, reports that the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science made the recommendation this summer in a letter sent to all public schools, institutes, and universities in the country. The action comes in response to a petition submitted by Ukrainian Adventists on behalf of students and parents who worship on Saturday.

"We are so happy that our voice has been heard in this case," says Valery Ivanov, communication director for Adventists in Euro-Asia. "This recommendation allows students to follow their convictions in celebrating the seventh day. It is important not only for Adventists in Ukraine but also for Jewish people, Sabbath-keeping Pentecostals, and other groups who honor the Bible Sabbath."

Although the Soviet Union was officially atheistic, school exams were rarely scheduled on Sundays even during the Communist era. However, Saturday was often a day for school and work, and this practice has continued in many former Soviet nations. Students who don't attend classes or take exams on Saturdays can fail their courses and lose the opportunity to attend universities.

Adventist students in Ukraine, Russia, and nearby nations usually deal with the challenge of Saturday exams by asking individual teachers and schools for permission to test on another day. Sometimes they are successful, but Ukrainian Adventists hope that the new recommendation will provide a stronger atmosphere of religious tolerance.

Ukraine is one of the most religiously diverse nations in Euro-Asia, with significant numbers of Orthodox believers, several branches of the Catholic Church, and numerous Protestant denominations. The country is also home to the largest remaining Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union.