Paganism in Ukraine: Beliefs, Encounter with Christianity, and Survival After

Authors

  • Vitalij PROSHAK

Keywords:

Paganism in Ukraine, leading religion in Ukraine, neo-paganism in Ukraine, paganism and Christianity, traditions of Ukrainian paganism

Abstract

The article examines the theme of paganism as the leading religion in Ukraine before the advent of Christianity with the goal of describing the period of the encounter between paganism and Christianity and evaluating the reasons for the present growth of interest in paganism. The article shows that the traditions of Ukrainian paganism were connected with ancient Asiatic religions brought to the area by means of trade routes from India and China to the Roman Empire that crossed the present territory of Ukraine. It is further asserted that Ukraine was already partially Christian before the official baptism of Kievan Rus through the influence of the missionary journeys of the apostle Andrew, Greek colonies, and also the political influence of Byzantium and Rome. In the conclusion, a short overview is given of neo-paganism in Ukraine and the main reasons for the growth of interest in it.

Author Biography

Vitalij PROSHAK

Vitaliy Valentynovych Proshak is a researcher in the Theological Department of Utrecht University, the Netherlands, where he is pursuing his PhD in Philosophy of Religious Education. Before entering the doctoral program he received the Master of Divinity and Master of Evangelical Theology degrees at Tyndale Theological Seminary in Amsterdam. He also works with Zaporozhye Bible College and Seminary in Ukraine where he received his Bachelor’s Degree and taught full time until June 2003 when he left to further his education.

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How to Cite

PROSHAK, Vitalij. 2006. “Paganism in Ukraine: Beliefs, Encounter With Christianity, and Survival After”. Theological Reflections: Eastern European Journal of Theology, no. 7 (December):140-48. http://reflections.eeit-edu.info/article/view/89727.