UBTS History
The Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary (UBTS) stands on the shoulders of many faithful Ukrainian Christians. In the 1930s, pioneers of the Evangelical-Baptist movement in Galicia established a Bible school in the L’viv region to train preachers, Sunday school workers, missionaries, and choir conductors. Unfortunately, these educational activities stopped with the onset of World War II. Many church workers emigrated to other countries, where they continued to study, work hard, pray, hope, and wait for the better times to return to Ukraine.
Following the war, it was almost impossible to obtain a systematic theological education under Soviet rule. However, when Ukraine gained its independence in 1991, everything started to change dramatically as regional Bible colleges were established in various regions throughout the country.
UBTS was established in 2000 in Boryslav, where an appropriate facility was purchased. Renovations to the seminary building were completed and the first students were enrolled in the Bachelor of Divinity program in 2002. The second cohort of students enrolled in the Bachelor of Divinity program in 2004 and the Masters-level program was launched in 2005. In addition to the theology programs taught in Boryslav, UBTS concurrently offered training in Christian Education, Music, and Choir in L’viv.
The first students enrolled in the UBTS Bachelor of Divinity program graduated in 2005. The first group of Master of Divinity students graduated in 2007.
Slavik Pyzh, Ph.D., President of UBTS
In 2012, UBTS relocated to L’viv in a small, rented building and launched a fresh stage of significant growth. The faculty was expanded; new professionals became involved as instructors; the curriculum was revised; and close partnership with churches and colleges reinforced.
Yaroslav Pyzh, Ph.D., who previously served as UBTS Academic Dean and earned a doctorate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the United States, was appointed president of UBTS in November 2013.
Under his leadership, the Seminary has established new departments, significantly expanded degree and training programs, and developed a master plan to create a self-contained campus for a growing number of students.
The final phase of construction on the new campus is now underway. This includes building a dormitory to provide safe, economical housing for students who rotate in and out of L’viv to attend classes throughout the year. When completed, UBTS will have a modern campus with several inter-connected buildings that provide classrooms and offices, a chapel, student housing, multi-purpose and communal gathering spaces, dining services, and parking.
In the 2024-25 academic year, 1,322 students – from every oblast (state in Ukraine) – are enrolled at the seminary.
