In the present time (2010) Ukraine is going through the period of transition from historical domination of Eastern Orthodoxy to a pluralist and secular religious and social model of democratic society. The present article, which is divided into four main parts and focuses on the main historical events in the development of religious and academic life in Ukraine, seeks to provide a reader with general overview of the progress in religion and religious education in Ukraine and covers the time period from Christianization of Kievan Russ in 989 till the proclamation of independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Key words
Chapter I: Early Christian Period, 989-1240
Chapter II: Period of late Middle Ages, 1240-1517
Chapter III: Modern Period, 1517-1917
Chapter IV: Soviet Ukraine, 1917-1991
General Summary
Research Objectives and Themes
This work provides a historical overview of the development of religious life and education in Ukraine, spanning from the Christianization of Kievan Rus in 989 to the proclamation of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The central research objective is to examine how political transitions and shifting foreign dominations have influenced the trajectory of religious pluralism and the educational systems connected to religious institutions throughout these historical epochs.
- The role of religion and education in statehood and social structure formation.
- The impact of inter-cultural and inter-religious relations on Ukrainian identity.
- The effects of political shifts from Kievan Rus to the Mongol-Tatar, Polish-Lithuanian, and Russian/Soviet eras.
- Church-state relations and the development of ideological controls over education.
- The importance of inter- and intra-religious dialogue for societal development.
Excerpt from the Book
Chapter I: Early Christian Period in Ukraine, 989 – 1240
The story of Ukrainian nation during this period went from the prosperity of Kievan Russ state to political, economic, and cultural declining due to the Mongol invention in the thirteenth century. During the era of growth and expansion of Kievan Rus, the people of Pως, as the Ukrainian nation was referred to in Byzantine sources, played important military and economic roles in Europe; while in the time of the Mongolo-Tatars invasion Kievan Russ has found itself being decentralized, fragmented and outside of the European politics and culture. Significant changes were also happening in the area of religion and education, i.e. transfer from [polytheism of] paganism to Orthodox monotheism and back to being under polytheism structure of Mongol invaders.
The main pre-Christian religion in Ukraine, according to the work of the Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea in VI century AC, was paganism. Paganism was not a monolith system of beliefs in Kievan Russ; rather it was represented by a collection of deities whose fate was not stable – new deities were constantly added replacing the importance of the previously worshiped.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a contextual overview of Ukraine's transition from historical Orthodoxy to a secular, pluralist society and outlines the four historical parts of the manuscript.
Chapter I: Early Christian Period, 989-1240: Examines the Christianization of Kievan Rus and the establishment of the first formal educational institutions as essential factors for statehood.
Chapter II: Period of late Middle Ages, 1240-1517: Analyzes the political and religious challenges posed by the Mongol-Tatar invasion and the subsequent fragmentation of Kievan identity.
Chapter III: Modern Period, 1517-1917: Discusses the impact of Polish-Lithuanian and Russian Imperial rule on religious fragmentation and the development of education amidst political oppression.
Chapter IV: Soviet Ukraine, 1917-1991: Covers the impact of Bolshevik ideology on religion and education, highlighting the transition from religious persecution to the cultural revival at the end of the Soviet era.
General Summary: Synthesizes the cyclical nature of growth and decline in Ukrainian religious and academic life throughout history and suggests directions for future research.
Keywords
Religion, state, education, civil society, Kievan Rus, Orthodoxy, Cossacks, Soviet Union, communism, nationalism, religious pluralism, educational institutions, history, dialogue, atheism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The book provides a historical overview of the development of religion and religious education in Ukraine from 989 to 1991.
What are the central themes discussed?
The core themes include the formation of social structures, the impact of foreign political powers, the evolution of Christian traditions, and the influence of ideological shifts on educational systems.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to explore how Ukrainian society adapted its religious and educational spheres in response to political challenges and external interventions throughout its history.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author employs a historical-analytical methodology, utilizing primary and secondary sources to examine the progress and setbacks in religion and education over specific historical epochs.
What does the main body cover?
It is divided into four main sections covering the Early Christian period, the late Middle Ages, the Modern period, and the Soviet era, each analyzing the socio-political context of the time.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as religion, state, education, civil society, Kievan Rus, Cossacks, and the Soviet era.
How did the Mongol-Tatar invasion affect religious education?
While the invasion caused initial destruction, religious institutions eventually received special privileges from Mongol rulers, which secured the continuation of religious education for a time.
What was the impact of the Soviet Union on religious life?
The Soviet period was marked by state-sponsored atheism, the prohibition of independent religious education, and the suppression of religious leadership, though some revival occurred in the final years.
How does the author define the role of the Cossacks?
Cossacks are portrayed as a national military force that played a crucial role not only in the quest for national independence but also in maintaining religious devotion to the Orthodox tradition.
- Quote paper
- Vitaliy Proshak (Author), 2010, Religion and Education in Ukraine: Historical Overview, 989-1991, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/268106
