Church Competition During the Pandemic: the Case of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

In: Euxeinos: governance and culture in the Black Sea Region ; newsletter of the Center for Governance and Culture in Europe, University of St. Gallen, Volume 12, Issue 33

Abstract

The collapse of the USSR resulted in religious revivals in all former republics, including Ukraine. Religion provided security and emotional support. It legitimized political elites, while some churches also offered public goods, substituting the state. With time, religion became a crucial component of the national identities. Despite many similarities to other primely Orthodox countries, Ukraine has been unique in its religious landscape. Several Orthodox jurisdictions have competed for the status of the national church, which allowed religious fragmentation in all regions of Ukraine. This paper shows the importance of religious pluralism in Ukraine during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.