CATHOLIC PROSELYTISM AS AN ATTEMPT TO DEEPEN INFLUENCE ON STATE-BUILDING PROCESSES IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article examines the contemporary aspects of the functioning of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, with an emphasis on its role in the formation of religious and national identity, as well as on the methods of proselytism among Orthodox believers. The relevance of the study is due to the need for an objective analysis of the influence of religious structures on the consolidation or division of Ukrainian society. In this context, the main problems identified are the tension between the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the ambiguous assessment of proselytizing activities, and the difficulty of distinguishing religious and educational work from religious and political proselytism. The research focus is on identifying key forms and strategies of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s activities that may influence the religious situation in the country. The overall results of the research and analytical generalizations are aimed at developing scientifically based conclusions regarding the role of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the modern religious landscape of Ukraine. The fundamental principles of religious studies research and methods of contextualization, historical-theological and comparative analysis, as well as content analysis of theological works and publications, which express the confessional specificity of the interpretation of the issues of church-religious proselytism, were used. Based on a religious expert’s examination of individual documents and statements of church leadership, a theoretical generalization of Catholic proselytism as one of the most sensitive phenomena in inter-church relations was made. A religious assessment of the historical context and contemporary forms of Catholic proselytism was conducted to determine its potentially “dangerous” or destructive consequences. It was found that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church does not engage in overt proselytizing activities, but uses a wide range of covert strategies, including adaptation of worship, ecumenical statements, and outreach activities, which can be considered proselytizing methods. At the same time, the church preserved its own religious and national identity during total repression and underground existence. The conclusions state that further research should focus on a comprehensive religious analysis of proselytizing practices, ecumenical initiatives, and the influence of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on the socio-religious and political consolidation of Ukrainian society.