CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF LUTHERAN CHURCHES IN UKRAINE IN THE SOCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN SPHERE

Abstract

The article examines the social and humanitarian activities of two modern Lutheran denominations in Ukraine. The specifics of the social activities of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and the German Evangelical Lutheran Church are analyzed in the light of their religious doctrine. Attention is drawn to the fact that the social activity of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church is historically determined by a special inculturation into the Ukrainian reality by the fact that it uses the liturgy of Ivan Chrysostom in a certain adaptation to the Lutheran creed. In recent years, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church has been very active in various forms of the humanitarian and social sphere and in the ecumenical movement. The materials used explain the phenomenon of Ukrainian Lutheranism, describe the main periods of the formation of Lutheranism in Ukraine on the example of the two largest Lutheran denominations, namely the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. Neither of these two ecclesiastical organizations of Lutheranism is directed towards its own identity, including the theological-ritual identity. Based on the creed and confessional interpretation of Christian teachings, the theological views of Martin Luther builds communications with society, the state and forms a social strategy. The article describes the basic principles of building social work and the connections of the main denominations of Ukrainian Lutheranism with other Christian denominations in the social-humanitarian sphere. Also, the attitude and level of involvement of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and the German Evangelical Lutheran Church in the ecumenical movement is highlighted separately. Social and humanitarian activity, the formation of basic social strategies and their absence are analyzed. Considering the fact that Lutheranism in Ukraine is not numerous, however, it is one of the traditional directions of Christianity in Ukraine, therefore the study of social activity and humanitarian activities of the churches of this direction is relevant.