Religion Commons^™

Comparative Analysis Of Youth Religiosity In Kazakhstan And Poland: Navigating Faith In Modern Societies, Arailym Zhanabayeva, Myrzakhmet Juzei, Nagima Baitenova, Zhanna Zhurgenbayeva

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper explores the complex relationship between religion and youth culture, focusing on Kazakhstan and Poland. Kazakhstan, with its ethnic diversity and dominant Islamic faith, is navigating a post-Soviet search for identity and renewed interest in traditional spiritual practices. Poland, deeply rooted in Catholicism, is experiencing secular trends and global influences that are reshaping youth religious engagement. The research aims to enrich discussions on youth religiosity and the evolving interplay between spiritual belief and modern life across different political and cultural contexts. The primary objective of this study is to examine the evolution of modern Kazakh society's approach to religion, …

Main Areas Of International Activity Of Ukrainian Christian Churches, Yuliia Kondratiuk, Olha Hordiichuk, Iryna Vitiuk, Oleh Sokolovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article analyzes the international activities of the main Christian denominations in Ukraine (the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Protestant denominations) in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has been ongoing since 2014 and became full-scale in 2022. The war has radically changed the priorities of all denominations: from classical ecumenism and missionary work to mass humanitarian aid, the protection of religious freedom, and countering Russia's use of religion as an instrument of aggression. Despite repression, the destruction of more than 630 religious buildings, and the deaths of dozens of clergy, Ukrainian churches have …

Dwelling In Parallel Worlds: Esoteric And New Age Milieus In The Soviet Period And Afterward, Edited By Birgit Menzel And Anna Tessman: A Review, Alexander John Paul Lutz

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A review of Birgit Menzel and Anna Tessmann, eds. Dwelling in Parallel Worlds: Esoteric and New Age Milieus in the Soviet Period and Afterward. Münster: LIT Verlag, 2025. 320 pp. €34.90 (paperback). ISBN: 978-3-643-91580-1.

Pilgrims Of Hope: Sociotheological Considerations, András Máté-Tóth

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Today, we can no longer view Europe according to the old political division between the progressive West and the lagging but striving East. Europe is a continent struggling with geopolitical challenges, a struggle in which it needs the offer of Christian thinking and behavior, which fully recognizes and acknowledges human beings and is capable of bridging the divides created by selfish interests. The bishops and episcopal institutions of Europe can humbly but confidently draw on the resources of faith and social knowledge, and with courageous consistency take their part in evangelization, journeying together in synodality with hope.

Religious And Cultural Dimension Of The "Ringing Cedars Of Russia" Movement In The Context Of Hybrid Warfare, Oleksandr Lukyanenko, Vitaly Dmytrenko, Vita Dmytrenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is devoted to a comprehensive religious analysis of the neo-religious movement “The Ringing Cedars of Russia,” based on the works of Vladimir Megre and the image of the prophetess Anastasia. The study covers the ideological and doctrinal foundations of the movement, its socio-cultural practices, the functioning of tribal settlements, as well as mechanisms of influence on individual and collective consciousness. Particular attention is paid to the concepts of “Vedrussia”, the sacralization of “Russian space” and the mythologization of Russia’s calling to revive the “primitive civilization of harmony.” The analysis shows that the movement, while declaring ecological and humanistic …

Religious Conversion From Islam To Christianity In Kazakhstan, Kalmahan Yerzhan, Didar Mamyrbayev, Yelaman Karibekuly

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The phenomenon of religious conversion constitutes a significant topic of inquiry within the realms of social and psychological research in contemporary society. This article investigates the experiences of Muslims in Kazakhstan who have transitioned to Christianity, specifically within the Baptist denomination. The study employed a qualitative approach and was executed through semi-structured interviews with participants. The primary objective of the interview was to ascertain how familial upbringing, emotional experiences, as well as social and psychological factors, influence the conversion process. The findings indicated that the act of changing one's religion is frequently correlated with an individual's personal spiritual quest, existential …

Stefan Tsankov And Orthodox Ecumenical Theology: Foundations, Grammar And Reception, Ioannis Kaminis, Nikos Kouremenos

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper examines the life, theology, and ecumenical legacy of Protopresbyter Dr. Stefan Tsankov (1881-1965), a leading Bulgarian Orthodox theologian and one of the earliest Orthodox pioneers of the modern ecumenical movement. Situating Tsankov within the broader trajectory of twentieth-century Orthodoxy, the study traces his biographical formation, academic career, and active participation in key inter-Christian and inter-Orthodox forums, including the Faith and Order and Life and Work movements. Particular attention is given to his theological “grammar” of ecumenism: a vision grounded in the catholicity of the Church, the inseparability of unity and doctrinal truth, and an irenic ethos marked by …

The Ukrainian Model Of Religiosity: Between Jurisdiction Conflict And Reconciliation Practices, Tetiana Havryliuk, Yuriy Chornomorets, Svitlana Shkil, Larysa Vladychenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article offers a philosophical and religious studies analysis of the dual role of religion in contemporary Ukrainian society as both a resource of reconciliation and a potential factor of polarization. Particular attention is paid to the Ukrainian context where the examples of interfaith dialogue, humanitarian cooperation among Churches, and the activities of military chaplains are analyzed, with special emphasis on the “Sophia Brotherhood” as a model of intra-Orthodox reconciliation. The study demonstrates that religion in Ukraine serves as a factor of moral support, national unity, and spiritual resistance during wartime, while simultaneously remaining an arena of jurisdictional and identity …

Resisting Empire, Promoting Peace: Churches Confront The ‘Russian World’ Ideology Conference Statement, Katharina Kunter

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

From 1-3 December 2025, about 90 church leaders and representatives of churches, national councils of churches, ecumenical partners, and scholars gathered in Helsinki, Finland, for the conference, organised by the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in collaboration with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Orthodox Church of Finland.

The statement underscores that Russia’s war against Ukraine—fuelled by the ‘Russian World’ ideology—is a military, political, and humanitarian assault that threatens both the lives of millions and the democratic foundations of Europe.

The Religious Landscape Of Ukraine During The War: Consolidation Potential And Destructive Imitations, Vadym Dyiak

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines the transformation of religion’s functional role in the context of the russian-Ukrainian war. The author analyzes how the extreme circumstances of armed conflict catalyze the polarization of Ukraine’s religious landscape, clearly distinguishing between authentic religiosity and its ideological imitations. The main focus is on conceptualizing the differences between churches that serve as a resource for spiritual consolidation and social therapy (the OCU, the UGCC) and religious institutions that are used as instruments of hybrid aggression. To describe the latter phenomenon, the author introduces and adapts Oswald Spengler’s concept of “historical pseudomorphosis.” It is argued that the activities …

The Ukrainian Religious Diaspora In Countering Russian Aggression, Liudmyla Fylypovych, Georgii D. Fylypovych Mr.

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article analyzes the activities of the Ukrainian religious diaspora during the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, its involvement in humanitarian support, and information-media opposition to Russia. It examines the initiatives of various churches, including the UGCC, the Orthodox Church in America, and Protestant congregations abroad, in providing concrete assistance to Ukraine, specifically to refugees, displaced persons, medical institutions, and units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The assistance provided is multi-vector in nature, ranging from financial support for individuals or institutions to psychological aid for those suffering from various traumas. The article highlights the necessity of creating inter-confessional coordination centers for …

The Transformation Of Traditional And Islamic Values Of Kazakhstani Youth In The Context Of Globalization, Nurgul Kabylbayeva, Kalimash Begalinova, Mohd Roslan Bin Mohd Nor

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of globalization processes on the transformation of traditional and Islamic values among Kazakhstani youth. In the context of contemporary globalization, the expansion of the information space, intensified cultural interaction, and the spread of Western lifestyles significantly influence young people’s worldview and value orientations. The study examines how traditional values inherent in Kazakhstani society and the spiritual and cultural foundations of Islam are being transformed in the consciousness of youth. Particular attention is paid to the emergence of new value models under the influence of globalization and their impact on national identity …

Religious Education In Bulgaria: Historical Development, Values, And Public Role In Contemporary Society, Ioannis Kaminis

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper examines the historical development, contemporary legal framework, and public debates related to religious education in Bulgaria. The analysis traces the role of Christian (Orthodox) education from the Middle Ages to the present day, paying special attention to the dramatic changes during the communist period and the transformations after 1989. At the heart of the study is the question of the place of religious education in a context of democracy, pluralism, and constitutionally guaranteed freedom of conscience. The article examines the current regulatory framework, the religious landscape in the country, and the various models for teaching religion in Bulgarian …

Disenchantment Of The World In The Context Of The Russian-Ukrainian War,, Olga Dobrodum, Eduard Martyniuk, Olena Nykytchenko, Mykola Palinchak, Ruslana Tkachenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article analyzes Max Weber's concept of the "disenchantment of the world" («Entzauberung der Welt») in the context of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, which began with Russia's invasion in February 2022 and continues to the present. The author examines disenchantment as a process of rationalization and desacralization of society, tracing its development from ancient origins (Epicurus) and monotheistic traditions to contemporary interpretations (Adorno and Horkheimer, Barthes, Baudrillard, Habermas, Taylor, Haraway, Latour). The paradoxical nature of the process is emphasized: secularization does not eliminate the sacred but transforms it into new forms—from commodity fetishism to digital eschatology and posthumanist animism.

The …

Religious Television Of Ukraine In Shaping Spiritual Identity In The Context Of Contemporary Media Practices, Oleh Sokolovskyi, Vadym Slyusar, Maksym Melnychuk, Yuliia Kondratiuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is devoted to analysing religious television in Ukraine as a key institution of contemporary sacred communication, which shapes a new configuration of spiritual presence within the digital media space. Religious TV channels are examined as mediatized spaces for producing and transmitting symbolic meanings, within which traditional theological narratives are adapted to the demands of audiovisual culture, and the sacred acquires new forms of visualisation, emotional accessibility, and communicative dynamism. It is demonstrated that television broadcasting provides a unique format of spiritual support, enabling faith communities to participate in prayer practices, catechetical programmes, and moral-ethical discourse beyond the boundaries …

The Human Rights Argumentation Of The Uoc-Mp As A Strategy Of Institutional Self-Preservation Under Conditions Of Armed Aggression, Mariia Rudiuk, Valeriy Bulatov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines the strategy of institutional self-preservation employed by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) under conditions of Russian armed aggression. The relevance of the topic is determined by the adoption of Law of Ukraine No. 3894-IX “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activities of Religious Organizations,” aimed at limiting the influence of religious structures affiliated with the aggressor state. Particular attention is devoted to the ways in which the UOC-MP utilizes democratic legal mechanisms and European human rights rhetoric in order to delay or neutralize Ukraine’s national security measures. The …

Use Of Courts By The Totalitarian Regime Against Protestant Communities In Ukraine, Oksana Vysoven, Natalia Varadi, Yurii Fihurnyi, Ganna Kriukova

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article analyzes the use of the courts by the totalitarian regime against Protestant communities in Ukraine. It has been established that the show trials held in the 1960s–1980s against the leaders and active members of the Council of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists, which opposed the totalitarian regime, and against ordinary believers in Protestant communities were conducted according to the plan of atheistic campaigns by officials of the communist regime and were organized by the repressive special services of the State Security Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It has been established that the trials led to the …

The Russian Orthodox Church In The Ukrainian Ssr, 1946–1951: Activity And State Relations In Vinnytsia Region, Natalka Zhmud, Anatoliy A. Voynarovskiy Skiy

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church (hereafter, ROC) and its relations with Soviet authorities in the Ukrainian SSR between 1946 and 1951. It draws on archival materials introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time–specifically, reports by commissioners of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Council for the Affairs of Religious Cults in the Ukrainian SSR, with particular reference to Vinnytsia region. Relations between the ROC and the Soviet authorities, in authors opinion, should be regarded in the context of a noticeable easing of anti-religious pressure under Stalin’s totalitarian regime …

The Theological Tradition Of The Orthodox Church In The Aspect Of The Formation Of Military Leadership In Ukraine, Olga Dobrodum, Andrii S. Zborchyi, Tetyana Kondratyuk-Antonova, Oleksandr L. Kolomiiets

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Analysis of the Orthodox theological tradition as a moral foundation for military leadership in the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the full-scale war. The study moves beyond pragmatic managerial models, exploring Orthodox categories such as service (diakonia), sacrifice, and spiritual warfare. Drawing on patristic heritage and modern theologians, the authors examine leadership motivation, the role of faith in professional resilience, and the integration of Orthodox anthropology into military training. Special emphasis is placed on the Orthodox Church of Ukraine's chaplaincy as a key mechanism for actualizing these values while addressing challenges like secularism and multiconfessionalism.

Belief, Religious Practice, And Religious Self-Description: A Comparative Analysis Of World Values Survey Wave 7 Data From Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, And Uzbekistan, Margulan Alpysbay, Dinara Utebayeva, Asset Kuranbek

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Although religiosity may appear straightforward to measure empirically, no single survey item captures it fully. This limitation is particularly evident in societies where belief in God is widespread: belief may not correspond to religious attendance, prayer frequency, or self- description as a religious person. Treating these differences as merely methodological would obscure important variation in how religiosity is expressed. A comparison of five empirical indicators of religiosity in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. It examines how belief in God, the importance of God in life, religious attendance, prayer frequency, and religious self-description converge or diverge. The analysis uses World Values Survey …

Transformation Of Lived Vernacular Religiosity During The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Symbolism Of Ukrainian Graffiti And Nativity Scenes, Mariia Chikarkova

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines transformations of lived religion in Ukrainian society in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian War, drawing on contemporary graffiti and Nativity scenes as its primary material. The study aims to identify the ways in which Christian symbolism is actualized, recontextualized, and semantically reinterpreted under the impact of the immediate experience of war. The methodological framework is based on an interdisciplinary approach to the study of religion, combining the concept of lived religion with iconographic and iconological analysis, as well as hermeneutic, semiotic, contextual, and comparative methods. The study analyzes representations of selected Christian figures and narratives in graffiti, …

The Romanian Orthodox Church And Ukrainian Refugees: Humanitarian Response And Ecclesial Solidarity, Damian Buchiu

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Romanian Orthodox Church’s public response to Ukrainian displacement combined emergency assistance with forms of solidarity that became increasingly connected to ecclesial life. A purposive corpus of twenty-four English-language items published by the Basilica News Agency, the official news agency of the Romanian Patriarchate, between February 2022 and December 2025 forms the principal source base. These materials record humanitarian and pastoral activity while also showing how the Church publicly interpreted its response. The early response relied heavily on structures already present in dioceses and local communities, which could be redirected quickly toward …

Reassessing Islamization In South Kazakhstan Through Written, Genealogical, And Archaeological Sources, Mukhtar Kozha, Asset Kuranbek

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article re-examines the early spread of Islam in South Kazakhstan through a comparative analysis of Arabic-Persian frontier narratives, nasab- nama (genealogical charter) traditions, and archaeological evidence from the Syrdarya, Otrar, Turkestan, and Sayram regions. It argues that Islamization in South Kazakhstan did not begin as a single act of conquest or mass conversion, but as a gradual frontier process shaped by military expansion, political realignment, migration, sacred-lineage formation, and urban transformation during the Umayyad (661–750 CE) and early Abbasid (from 750 CE) periods. The study applies a triangulatory method, distinguishing between contemporaneous frontier narratives, retrospective sacred genealogies, and archaeological …

Religious Radicalism And Terrorism In Central Asia After The Collapse Of The Soviet Union: Historical Roots, Geopolitical Factors, And Security Dynamics, Meltem Akıncı Phd

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article provides a comprehensive academic analysis of the historical origins, ideological foundations, and systemic impacts of religious radicalism and international terrorism on the geopolitical landscape of Central Asia in the post-Cold War era. The study closely examines how the ideological vacuum created by the collapse of the Soviet legacy, complex socioeconomic transformations during the transitional period, and external geopolitical influences from the Middle East and South Asia facilitated the latent and overt expansion of destructive radical religious movements in the region. Special emphasis is placed on the dual nature of the Islamic factor in the nation-building processes of Central …

Religious Security In The Post-Soviet Space: The Evolution And Socio-Political And Legal Consequences Of Religious Extremism In Kazakhstan, Zharas Akhan Phd

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Examination of the processes of emergence, institutionalization, and development of religious extremism in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. Utilizing historical-comparative and institutional methodologies, the study analyzes the socio-political and economic factors that have contributed to the spread of radical religious ideologies from the 1990s to the present. The development of religious extremism in Kazakhstan is categorized into three chronological stages: the latent formative period (1991–1998), the stage of institutional adaptation and prevention (1999–2010), and the phase of transition to terrorist methods (2011–present). The research findings demonstrate that religious extremism in Kazakhstan has evolved from a perceived external threat into a complex internal security …

Russian-Speaking Muslim Female Bloggers And The Rise Of Gender-Justice Religious Narratives, Kymbat Karatyshkanova, Kudaiberdi Bagasharov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines how Russian-speaking Muslim female bloggers use social media to construct gender-justice narratives and contest religious interpretations they perceive as patriarchal. Drawing on qualitative thematic discourse analysis of publicly available content on YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok, the study conceptualizes these practices as digital counter-preaching: the public contestation and reframing of existing religious messages through alternative Islamic arguments. The findings identify several strategies, including framing women’s rights as divinely grounded entitlements, distinguishing Islam from patriarchal cultural practices, promoting economic resilience, challenging selective gendered accountability, and emphasizing reciprocity in marital relations. Digital counter-preaching emerges from perceived interpretive injustice, women’s …

Postsecular Coping Mode (Pscm): The Mechanism Of Sacred Meaning Reactivation Under Secular Pressure In Post-Soviet Societies, Aruzhan Akhmetova Aru, Mukhan Issakhan

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article introduces the concept of Postsecular Coping Mode (PSCM) to explain the changing psychological dynamics of religiosity in post-Soviet societies. Classical studies of religious coping typically conceptualize religion as a relatively stable strategy or behavioral response. However, under postsecular conditions, religious experience increasingly appears as a context-sensitive, episodically activated meaning-regulation mode. In response, the notion of coping mode is conceptualized as a distinct psychological category analytically differentiated from conventional coping frameworks. The proposed PSCM model describes the selective reactivation of sacred meaning resources under conditions of perceived secular pressure. Its processual architecture unfolds through four stages: (1) the trigger …

Religious Situation In Ukraine: Main Trends And Prognostic Visions, Olena Predko, Denys Predko, Ihor Maksymenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The contemporary religious situation in Ukraine is characterized by the resilience of religious institutions despite the full-scale war and destruction of infrastructure, which demonstrates a high level of nominal religiosity and the social significance of religion. At the same time, a profound structural transformation of the Orthodox field is underway, reflecting processes of national identification, security, and the delegitimization of pro-Russian structures. In parallel, there is a shift in religiosity from a mobilizational to a reflective, individualized form, in which faith performs psychological, meaning-making, and symbolic functions rather than mere institutional affiliation. At the same time, the post-war period retains …

Book Review: Rev. Jacek Urban, Archidiecezja Krakowska W Latach 1925-2025. Szkice Historyczne [The Archdiocese Of Kraków In 1925-2025: Historical Sketches], Filip Mazurczak

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A review of Rev. Jacek Urban, Archidiecezja Krakowska w latach 1925-2025. Szkice historyczne [The Archdiocese of Kraków in 1925-2025: Historical Sketches], (Kraków: Księgarnia Akademicka, 2026), 416 pages, 60 PLN. ISBN 9788383684239.

The Crisis Of Theodicy In Wartime Ukraine: From Gottverlassenheit To The Anthropodical Shift, Tetiana Havryliuk, Yuriy Chornomorets, Svitlana Shkil

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Examination of the crisis of classical theodicy in the context of contemporary warfare, with particular attention to the experience of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The problem of innocent suffering can no longer be approached solely through speculative attempts to justify the world order or reconcile radical evil with divine providence. Methodologically, the study combines hermeneutic, phenomenological, and comparative-conceptual analysis. It reconstructs a selective genealogy of Gottverlassenheit from Martin Luther’s Theologia Crucis through Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Jürgen Moltmann, brings this tradition into dialogue with contemporary moral anti-theodicy, and examines Ukrainian philosophical and religious reflections shaped by wartime experience. The article’s …