Private screening of the documentary "Thy Will" at the National Centre RUSSIA
On June 4б 2025, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted a private screening of the documentary "Thy Will" directed by Yekaterina Arkalova. The event was organised by the ANO "Integration" Production Centre in cooperation with the "Rushelp" Charitable Foundation and the Nikita Tomilin Foundation.
The film, which explores the destruction of Orthodox sacred sites in the conflict zones of Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, serves as a powerful testimony to the resilience of spirit, strength of faith, and selflessness of the Russian people. It tells the stories of those who, despite war and shelling, not only preserve but also restore churches — bringing life back to places once filled with the sounds of gunfire.
The screening deeply moved the audience, which included cultural figures, politicians, representatives of public organisations and clergy.
"For me, our film is above all about the spiritual feat of the Russian people. Despite all the enemy's attempts to rob them of hope, they have not grown bitter, have not given up. Their faith is alive — and it is triumphing right now," said Nikita Tomilin, head of the Charitable Foundation.
According to the director, the idea for the film came from personal experience.
"When your country is in trouble, you cannot make other kinds of films. I wanted to tell a story about war — but without showing the war itself. A story about people who did not abandon churches under shelling, but stayed to help others," said Yekaterina Arkalova.
The film features voices of both military and civilian priests, volunteers and parishioners. A special focus is placed on the story of Father Nikolai, who continues his ministry on the front line despite losing his home.
"Father Nikolai says: 'My house is gone, but I am alive, I am with the church — that is Thy Will.' That is the essence of the film’s title: both humility and the extraordinary spiritual labour of ordinary people," shared Yekaterina Arkalova.
Eduard Basurin, public figure and retired colonel of the DPR, emphasised the importance of the spiritual dimension:
"This is a film about what makes us human. About a faith that enables not just survival, but renewal. It helps us remember who we are."
Rodion Miroshnik, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that "Thy Will" is more than just a film:
"I have personally been to many of the locations where the film was shot. I saw ruined churches, I saw people shielding icons with their own bodies. This is a war not only against the people, but against faith. Thy Will is not just a documentary. It is a spiritual chronicle of the resilience of the Russian people. It must be shown both in Russia and beyond."
The evening brought together like-minded guests, united by shared values and worldview. Among them were Senator Sergei Ryabukhin, writer Mikhail Shakhnazarov, publicist Nikolai Starikov, actress Olga Budina, director and poet Olesya Shigina, President of the Guild of Producers and Production Managers of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation Filipp Kudryashov, priest and blogger Vladislav Beregovoy, and many others.
The private screening became not only a cultural event but also a space of shared meaning — a place where viewers could experience the true strength of spirit, love and faith that knows no bounds.
Event photobank
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