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Ukrainian nuns open their monastery doors to the displaced

An internally displaced child, wearing a make-shift Ukrainian flag, sits during an activities class with nuns, as she takes refuge at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Beneath the ancient beech forests of the Carpathian Mountains, a quiet monastery in the western Ukrainian village of Hoshiv has transformed itself into a giant playground for a dozen children who've been displaced by the war with their families. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Internally displaced people make prayers before eating dinner, at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, where nuns have been hosting people fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Before the war, the nuns led a tranquil life. In addition to their religious duties and charitable work, they grew mushrooms, made their own pasta and painted icons. Now, they run after young children, provide support to their mothers and cook daily for dozens of guests. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Nuns make prayers after eating dinner, at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, where they have been taking in internally displaced families fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Before the war, the nuns led a tranquil life. In addition to their religious duties and charitable work, they grew mushrooms, made their own pasta and painted icons. Now, they run after young children, provide support to their mothers and cook daily for dozens of guests. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Nuns and internally displaced woman and her son, cut slices of meat, at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, where nuns have been taking in families fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Before the war, the nuns led a tranquil life. In addition to their religious duties and charitable work, they grew mushrooms, made their own pasta and painted icons. Now, they run after young children, provide support to their mothers and cook daily for dozens of guests. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Nuns eat dinner, at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, where they have been taking in internally displaced families fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Before the war, the nuns led a tranquil life. In addition to their religious duties and charitable work, they grew mushrooms, made their own pasta and painted icons. Now, they run after young children, provide support to their mothers and cook daily for dozens of guests.  (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Internally displaced people eat dinner, at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, where nuns have been hosting people fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Before the war, the nuns led a tranquil life. In addition to their religious duties and charitable work, they grew mushrooms, made their own pasta and painted icons. Now, they run after young children, provide support to their mothers and cook daily for dozens of guests. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Nuns and internally displaced people, wash dishes after eating dinner, at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, where nuns have been taking in families fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Before the war, the nuns led a tranquil life. In addition to their religious duties and charitable work, they grew mushrooms, made their own pasta and painted icons. Now, they run after young children, provide support to their mothers and cook daily for dozens of guests. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Internally displaced people prepare to eat dinner, at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, where nuns have been hosting people fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Before the war, the nuns led a tranquil life. In addition to their religious duties and charitable work, they grew mushrooms, made their own pasta and painted icons. Now, they run after young children, provide support to their mothers and cook daily for dozens of guests.  (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) 10-year-old Rostyslav Borysenko, who fled besieged Mariupol, left, and displaced children make prayers with nuns, in a makeshift chapel in a basement nuns have prepared to take shelter in, when air raids go off, at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, where nuns have been hosting people fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. "We play, and read prayers," said Borysenko, who fled with his mother. "It helps." His mother is still anxiously awaiting news of relatives and friends who couldn't escape Mariupol, or were evacuated to eastern areas controlled by Russian-backed separatists. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Nuns walk in the basement they have prepared to take shelter when air raids go off, at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, where nuns have been taking in internally displaced people fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. When air sirens go off, the nuns warn the rest of the residents by ringing the monastery bells — a less traumatic sound than the loud sirens in the cities — and direct them to the basement. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Nuns play with internally displaced children, who are taking refuge at the Hoshiv Women Monastery, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Many of the children who are now laughing and hugging the nuns arrived in a state of shock.(AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) The Hoshiv Women Monastery, where nuns have been taking in families fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Beneath the ancient beech forests of the Carpathian Mountains, a quiet monastery in the western Ukrainian village of Hoshiv has transformed itself into a giant playground for a dozen children who've been displaced by the war with their families. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Nuns play with internally displaced children, who are taking refuge at the Hoshiv Women's Monastery, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Many of the children who are now laughing and hugging the nuns arrived in a state of shock. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) A makeshift chapel in the bomb shelter nuns have prepared to take shelter in when air raids go off, at the Hoshiv Women's Monastery, where nuns have been taking in internally displaced people fleeing the war, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Mattresses, blankets and benches also line the basement. But even when there are no sirens, children happily use the cavernous underground space. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
Ukrainian nuns open their monastery doors to the displaced