FEATURES OF EXPLICATION OF INTER-ORTHODOX RELATIONS IN UKRAINIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Abstract

B a c k g r o u n d . This article explores the formation and evolution of Ukrainian religious studies in the context of examining inter-Orthodox relations, which have gained particular relevance due to the establishment of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), shifts in the religious landscape of Ukraine, and global decolonization processes. The author highlights how Ukrainian scholars interpret complex confessional interactions, jurisdictional conflicts, and the impact of Orthodoxy on national identity, societal stability, and geopolitical agency.

M e t h o d s . The study employs an interdisciplinary approach that integrates tools from religious studies, sociology, philosophy, political science, and cultural studies. The methodological framework is based on narrative analysis, postcolonial critique, and principles of hermeneutics. A comparative-historical method is applied to reconstruct the stages of development in Ukrainian religious studies, alongside content analysis of scholarly works that address issues of autocephaly, jurisdictional disputes, and globalization-related challenges.

R e s u l t s . The study finds that the tradition of religious studies in Ukraine has undergone significant transformation – from an ideologically constrained Soviet model to a modern analytical discourse that actively reflects on global processes. Key scholars (V. Yelenskyі, O. Sahan, Yu. Chornomorets) are identified as having laid the intellectual groundwork for the study of inter-Orthodox relations in the context of war, digitalization, globalization, and secularization. The article outlines major themes in contemporary Ukrainian religious scholarship, such as autocephaly, canonical territory, Orthodox nationalism, the role of the diaspora, and digital technologies in church life. It is demonstrated that Ukrainian Orthodoxy is increasingly integrated into global religious processes, while also transforming the concept of ecclesial unity.

C o n c l u s i o n s . Ukrainian religious studies has emerged as an independent analytical instrument for understanding ecclesiastical dynamics both within Ukraine and across the broader Orthodox world. The research argues that inter-Orthodox relations should not be viewed merely as internal ecclesial matters – they also entail critical cultural, political, and security dimensions. Thanks to the intellectual achievements of Ukrainian scholars, a productive analytical field has been formed, capable not only of describing but also of interpreting and forecasting developments within the Orthodox environment amid global transformations.