A new exhibition titled "Protestantism in Independent Ukraine", highlighting the history and the development of current Protestant churches worldwide and in modern Ukraine, was opened in Lviv at the Museum of Religion.

The exhibition theme is represented by lithographs, clerical and liturgical clothings of ministers, preachers, pastors and bishops, various religious objects, publications (books, magazines, calendars), numerous photographs, and the Bible translation of Martin Luther.

According to the Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU) Representatives of the German Lutheran Church in Ukraine, Ukrainian Lutheran Church in Lviv, Evangelical Reformist Church in Ukraine, All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals), Seventh-day Adventist Church, and other institutions contributed to the exhibition.

"Protestantism is one of the trends of Christianity, but even now many people do not know that. In the last twenty years, its status in Ukraine has changed considerably: the number of churches has grown and its geography has changed. Nevertheless, Protestantism is still little-studied and insufficiently represented in the local lore museums," says a researcher of the Scientific Methodical Department of the Museum.

"Therefore, the event is aimed to attract more attention to the development of Protestant Churches in Ukraine and to cover their lines of activity. For many young museum workers, it is a completely new thing," explained the research worker.

Independence of Ukraine as an independent, democratic state was established in August 1991, after the Soviet Union's collapse.

Protestants in Ukraine number about 600.000 to 700.000 (2007), about 1% of the total population. Nearly all traditional Protestant denominations are represented in the country. According to the State Committee on Nationalities and Religions, 30 percent of the country's religious communities are Protestant.