Religious markets in Ukraine: Post-Communist revivals and new directions

Abstract

The authors review the religious revival in Ukraine from its independence until 2018. Following the collapse of the USSR traditional religious groups were resurrected (e.g. Orthodox and Greek Catholics) and new ones entered the stage (e.g. various Protestant and Evangelistic organizations). In contrast to many post-communist societies, the Ukrainian religious landscape became extremely diverse. Three Orthodox jurisdictions, Greek and Roman Catholics, traditional minorities of Jews and Muslim Tatars together with new Protestant and Evangelistic groups have contributed to the pallet. The authors apply a religious market framework to discuss religious consumption (respondents) and supply (religious organizations). Novel data about religious communities registered at the regional level suggest that religious pluralism and the competition between the Ukrainian Orthodox jurisdictions have been a pivotal facet of religious revival in Ukraine.