UKRAINIAN PROTESTANTS DURING THE PANDEMIC: A RELIGIOUS ANALYSIS

Abstract

The article explores the problems faced by Ukrainian Protestant churches during the pandemic. It is found that the most important issue that Ukrainian Protestants had to solve was the issue of liturgy, in particular online communion, which caused numerous discussions in the Protestant environment. In the so-called “young” churches, which were formed during the period of independence, this form of ministry was perceived more softly than in the so-called “old” communities that transitioned from the Soviet period. The most important issues for Protestants in conducting online communion were: the condition of community, self-analysis of their spiritual state and testimony to the outside world. It was found that the first to express an official position on the communion during quarantine were Baptists – the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists and Odesa Theological Seminary. It was found that, despite the active discussion of ministers and theologians of Protestant communities, Ukrainian Protestants actively used the opportunity of online services. The second, much more controversial issue that arose in Protestant churches is the question of accepting or not accepting vaccination. It was found that there is no specific trend on this issue. Both elderly and young believers; both “old” and “young” churches; both women and men; both uneducated and educated church members were against vaccination. The issue of vaccination has actualized the eschatological issue, which was raised more by pastors and preachers of “old” churches. It was established that due to the protracted pandemic and forced vaccination by the state, eschatological sentiments among Ukrainian Protestants have intensified. It is deemed that the situation with the pandemic, when the churches were closed, caused a deeper awareness of faith and even greater zeal for meetings among Ukrainian Protestants.