People group profile · PG046961
The Ruthenians of Ukraine
The Ruthenians of Ukraine, numbering about 332,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Eastern Slavic ethnic group indigenous to historical Kievan Rus' state that encompasses parts of modern Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.
They are an indigenous people in the Slav, Eastern people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Rusyn.
Fast facts
- Country
- Ukraine
- Population
- 332,000
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Slav, Eastern
- Primary language
- Rusyn (rue)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Europe, Europe
- Location
- Zakarpattia region
Where they live
Gospel status
The Ruthenians are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Ruthenians
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
81% adherents
Primary language
Rusyn · Indo-European family
75% speak Rusyn
Gospel resources in Rusyn
- Bible available, published 2009
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Ruthenians
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
Ruthene (Rusyn) in other countries
The same people (ROP3 108457) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruthenians | Poland | 10,500 | No Longer Unreached |
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