Religious institutions in the transformation processes of Ukrainian identity in wartime conditions

Abstract

The article analyses the transformation of religiosity in Ukrainian society in the context of a full-scale war caused by the russian invasion. Against the backdrop of general European secularisation, the Ukrainian case demonstrates not a decline but, on the contrary, a revitalisation of the religious factor as a source of moral mobilisation, social support, and collective solidarity. The author demonstrates how war transforms the role of religion, extending its functions beyond ritual and institutional life into the realms of practical service, spiritual and psychological care, and humanitarian activity. Based on sociological data, the article examines the dynamics of public trust in the Church, regional and confessional characteristics of religious behaviour, as well as citizens’ expectations regarding the role of religious institutions. Examples of institutional adaptation and social service by the UGCC and the OCU are considered. The author emphasises that religiosity in wartime takes on an inclusive public dimension, contributing to healing, restoration and strengthening of national identity. The Ukrainian experience is seen as a potentially universal model of religion’s response to existential challenges, relevant also to other contexts of global instability.

The author analyses religious transformations in Ukrainian society against the backdrop of a full-scale war with russia, focusing on changing attitudes towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) as a religious structure affiliated with the aggressor state. The author considers the patterns of rejection of pro-russian church institutions as part of a broader trend towards the affirmation of Ukrainian identity, the strengthening of national unity, and the pursuit of spiritual and political sovereignty. Considerable attention is paid to the analysis of draft law No. 8371, the reaction of international religious leaders, in particular Pope Francis, as well as the position of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which demonstrates an example of moral autonomy and responsible theological discourse. The text critically examines the concept of political orthodoxy as a form of quasi-religious thinking that legitimises the imperial ideology of the russian world through religious structures. The author uses the analytical category of sect to describe the activities of the UOC (MP), arguing that it is characterised by closedness, authoritarianism, ideological pressure and manipulative influence. The article highlights the need for a delicate balance between protecting national security and guaranteeing religious freedom, emphasising the socially significant role of the Church as a source of solidarity, ethical guidance and hope in times of war.