THE UNITED LOCAL ORTHODOX CHURCH IN UKRAINE: CHALLENGES OF TODAY AND THE FUTURE

Abstract

B a c k g r o u n d . The article examines the current state and possible directions of development in the process of forming the Unified Local Orthodox Church in Ukraine. It is emphasized that the relevance of this topic is determined by the multidimensional role of the Church, which functions not only as a religious but also as a cultural, national, and socio-political institution. In the context of war, the choice of religious affiliation acquires not only identification and worldview dimensions but also ideological and patriotic significance. It is established that the granting of the Tomos of autocephaly to the Kyiv Metropolis was only the initial stage in the formation of the Unified Local Orthodox Church, while its further development requires the establishment of interconfessional dialogue and balanced state policy.

M e t h o d s . The study applied a set of methodological approaches that provided a comprehensive analysis of the process of forming the Unified

Local Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The historical method made it possible to trace the dynamics of interconfessional and church-state relations, while content analysis was used to assess the current state of the religious environment. Statistical analysis of sociological data and state materials on the composition and structure of religious organizations allowed for the characterization of recent confessional changes and the identification of discrepancies between the population's religious self-identification and the actual number of parishes, highlighting the complexity and heterogeneity of the religious landscape. The hermeneutic approach ensured the interpretation of the legal framework, while the expert assessment method helped to reveal public attitudes toward autocephaly. The combination of these methods made it possible to formulate analytical conclusions and outline possible scenarios for the further development of the Unified Local Church.

R e s u l t s . The study recorded parity between the communities of the UOC (Moscow Patriarchate) and the OCU, as well as the continued activity of parishes of the UOC (Kyiv Patriarchate), which indicates the incompleteness of the unification process. The main factors hindering the formation of the Unified Local Orthodox Church were identified, including the imperfection of legal regulation, the lack of dialogue on the part of the higher church hierarchy, and the politicization of the process.

C o n c l u s i o n s . The necessity of improving the statutory framework of religious organizations and creating a legal infrastructure that guarantees the freedom of community choice and the possibility of transitions between jurisdictions has been emphasized. The role of local priests as key participants in interconfessional dialogue and the importance of educational programs aimed at promoting the historical continuity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy have been highlighted. It has been determined that such measures can contribute to the development of mature religious consciousness and to the establishment of the Unified Local Church as both a unifying force for society and a factor of national security.