THE IMPACT OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF UKRAINE ESTABLISHMENT ON THE INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/2415-881x.2025.97.124-143
Abstract
The research examines the impact of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) establishment on the institutional transformation of the country's political landscape. The study analyzes the historical background and geopolitical context of the OCU's constitution, the process of obtaining the Tomos of autocephaly, and its influence on Ukraine's religious sphere. Particular attention is paid to the role of the institution of the presidency in the establishment of the OCU and the transformation of state-church relations influenced by this process.
It has been established that the creation of the OCU was not merely a religious event but also an important state-building project integrated into the strategy of strengthening Ukraine's national security and sovereignty. The research reveals that the institution of the presidency played a decisive role in obtaining the Tomos, which led to a significant expansion of the president's actual powers in the sphere of state-church relations. A comparative analysis of the rhetorical and political strategies of Presidents P. Poroshenko and V. Zelensky regarding the church issue is conducted, revealing the evolution of these strategies from securitization to pragmatic incorporation of the religious factor into the institutional architecture of national security. It is proven that under conditions of full-scale Russian aggression, the OCU has transformed into a significant factor in strengthening Ukraine's national security through countering the ideological narratives of the «Russian world,» developing the institution of military chaplaincy, engaging in social and humanitarian activities, and conducting international religious diplomacy. The study confirms that the establishment of the OCU catalyzed profound transformations of Ukraine's political landscape in institutional, discursive, and international dimensions, contributing to the consolidation of Ukrainian society and strengthening statehood in the face of external threats.
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References
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