The Lutheran Church in : in search of a national identity

Victoria LYUBASHCHENKO. Ukraine, L’viv © V. Lyubashchenko, 2003

1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND kraine is one of the most widely representa tive Protestant regions in . UThe first Calvinist and Lutheran communities (which are related to the classic Protestant tradition) were founded in Ukraine as early as the middle of the sixteenth century. Their connection with the Magisterial or Church determined the gentrified character of the early Protestant movement in Ukraine and left a distinct mark on its national and cultural life. Contemporary in Ukraine is usually defined by its evan gelical segment, including Baptist, Evangelical Christian, Pentecostal, and Adventist congregations, which grew out Victoria Lyubashchenko of the «folk» or Radical Reformation. The latter gave new (L’viv) is a Doctor of Philosophy. Currently meaning to the whole idea of the church, subordinating it she works at the to the only divine criterion — Holy Scripture (following Institute of Ukrainian Martin Luther’s wellknown maxim: «The church does Studies of the National not define what the is; the Bible defines what the Academy of Science. She church is»). Later evangelical communities departed still has published a book, The History of further from church tradition, understanding the latter Protestantism in not as a historical, but rather a biblical apostolic inheritance, Ukraine, and other books as the carrying out of God’s commandments in accordance and articles in the area with the letter and spirit of revelation. of church history. Usually in Ukraine, where by far the majority of believers consider themselves to be Orthodox or Catholic, evangelical Protestantism is regarded negatively as «sectarian expansion into native spiritual life.»1 But , with its favorable attitude to the institutional

1 Golos Ukrainii, 26 April 1999. Theological Reflections #1, 2003 183 Victoria Lybashchenko

church, and its historical and con grace is given to the whole human temporary dialogue with Orthodoxy, race, therefore there is no sacral may count on the latter’s positive difference between clergy and laity; perception. Nevertheless, the position people serve God in their everyday of Lutheranism in the Ukrainian life) and also Sola Scriptura (divine context is problematic. inspiration of the Bible alone). If Lutheranism is essentially a salvation is not in the church, but is model of moderatelyreformed Ca God’s gift, then truth is not in sacred tholicism, and its rudiments are basi tradition, but in revelation. The cally different from those of evan Word of God is the only infallible gelical Protestantism. This is seen, source of faith. for example, in its appeals to early Based on Augustine’s teaching on patristic literature, in which German the Two Cities, Luther worked out the (and later Swiss) Reformers saw theory of two authorities, according much truth, albeit perverted by anci to which state and church have ent philosophy; its reconsideration of different prerogatives. But inasmuch Renaissance humanism (especially as a believer and a priest are one concerning the problem of free will); indivisible person, secular and church the actualization of Christian ethics powers also constitute a unified, God and law; and its recognition of the ordained social organism. Secular authority of the Apostolic, Nicene authorities may (though moderately (retaining the Filioque), and Atha and only in the state’s interest) nasian creeds. intervene in church affairs (potential In contrast to Erasmus, Luther Caesaropapism), and church authorities insisted on the absolute sinfulness of — in secular interests (potential cleri man, his inability to participate in calism). This was the reason for Luthe salvation. Moreover, the church and ranism’s rejection of radical social and its statutes (good deeds) lost their ecclesiastical changes. That is why its soteriological significance; thus, good creeds are penetrated with the spirit deeds are not the means, but the fruit of compromise, and the church has of righteousness. Luther rejected any adopted the attributes (altar, crucifix, attempt to reconsider revelation (the images, priestly vestments) and the idea of the primacy of the Word over elements of the Catholic rite (fasting, philosophy) and substantiated the dif confession, religious processions with ference between the two biblical a cross, etc.). doctrines (Law and ) and the Although later Lutheran teach two natures of man («external» and ing has undergone some changes «internal»), which symbolize letter (beginning with Luther himself in and spirit, false and true faith. This his ecclesiology, in his reevaluation last is the way to restoring a per of the meaning of culture and sonal relationship between the philosophy), the Lutheran church has individual and the Living God. This kept its spirit of compromise. For rethinking of the function of the all of its doctrine of justification by church found its logical continuation faith, Lutheranism insists on the bap in the principles of Sola gratia (God’s tism of children; while denying the

184 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #1, 2003 Lutheran Church in Ukraine graceimparting significance of church structure, the institution of churchly «acts of righteousness,» bishops or superintendents, and Lutheranism understands the archbishops), and, since the nineteenth Eucharist as a sacrament. Children century, the establishment of men’s «still in the womb… participate in and women’s communities of the the precept of eternal life»; therefore, monastic type. By sanctifying the «… the of children is not a state as a divine institution, Luther vain affair, but is necessary for rejected opposition to authority. salvation and is effective.»2 The That is why Lutheranism was critical doctrine of consubstantiation (the of social and religious radicalism presence of Jesus’ body and blood and supported the monarchy and the in the bread and wine, thus the idea of the state church in a number presence of four elements in the of countries. Eucharist) became the modification Throughout its history in Ukra of Catholic transubstantiation (trans ine, Lutheranism was interpreted as formation of the body and blood into a «German» faith. According to some bread and wine, thus changing one authors, it was a kind of Prussian element into another). Having intrigue against the Slavic world. formulated the doctrine of the (This is one of the themes in the priesthood of all believers, Luther famous polemic between Russian still upheld the special authority of Westernizers and Slavophils.) the priest as a person who fun Incidentally, this «national view» of ctionally retains the apostolic Lutheranism is not groundless. The (especially presbyterial) inheritance. appearance of this denomination is Ordination is not merely evidence of closely bound to the idea of a a priest’s moral purity, but a pledge national church, which was taken up of special gifts received from God in the sixteenth century in the (Apology, Article XIII). Thus, in German principalities as part of Lutheranism a person may receive their nationalcultural aspirations. pardon for sin from a priest as if Lutheranism found support in other from God himself (The Apology European countries that aspired to claims that confession is the third national independence. But it became sacrament of the Lutheran church), the national church only in those believing that those sins will be places where the «moderate» magi forgiven in heaven. The priest sterial reform program was pursued. embodies not only apostolic au But the middle and lower classes thority, but also the authority of hoped for the radical reorganization Christ (Small Catechism, part V). On of church and society, which was this premise, Lutheranism preserves proclaimed by Calvinist Burghers (in a hierarchy (synodalconsistorial Eastern Europe it was the gentry, or szlachta) and «plebeian» Anabaptists. Their radicalism found its expression 2 «Stat’i vizitatsij (Svodnye artikuly)» and «Apo in more decisive doctrinal initiatives. logiia augsburgskogo veroispovedaniia» in Kniga While the statements of faith in soglasiia. Veroispovedanie i uchenie Liuteranskoj Tserkvi (Duncanville, 1998), pp. 830 and 200. troduced by German Reformers be

Theological Reflections #1, 2003 185 Victoria Lybashchenko

came obligatory for all Lutheran Lutherans left not one written work churches in the world, Calvinists did in the national language. Thus, the not codify any creeds at all. widelydisseminated explanation in Although ’s writings are native historiography concerning undoubtedly authoritative, the collapse of the early Protestant emphasized the regional creativity movement in Ukraine — that it had of its followers and the composition a «German spirit,»3 alien not only of national documents (the to Orthodoxy, but also to Calvinism Heidelberg and Brest Catechisms, the and Socinianism — is superficial. Gallican, Belgic, and Westminster Lutheranism’s function as a Confessions of Faith, etc.). Calvinism bearer of German culture is typical and later evangelical trends for recent Ukrainian history as well. supported the spiritual desires of Before the Second World War this national communities, encouraging religion existed mainly in German them to use their native languages, settlements. Most often in the south culture and traditions. Ivan Franko, eastern region — in the colonies of in his periodization of Ukrainian MünchenKharkovskaja, Rorbach, literature dates the new period from Worms, Baden, Strasburg, Elzas, and the Catechism by Simon Budny KasselTavricheskaja guberniias and (1562) — the first SlavicRussian also in and Kiev (Here the first biblical translation, and a Protestant community was founded in 1765; its work. church building was built in 1857 But Lutheranism in Ukraine in for a congregation that numbered the sixteenth and seventeenth cent 13,000 members by the twentieth uries was the faith of German col century.) In western Ukraine there onists — townsfolk, artisans, and was with its numerous merchants. This fact made it a mar German communities: the colonies of ginal phenomenon as a new religious Brigidau, Dornfeld, Hartfeld, Un movement in a society where it would terwalden, Einsingen, Ugarsthal and have needed the upper class as its also the cities of Peremysl’, L’viv (here main promoter. Lutheranism received a local congregation had 5,000 neither support nor was widely parishioners in 1936), RavaRusskaja, disseminated (with no more than ten Drogobych, Stryj, Stanislav. By the groups in the western region), nor did beginning of the 1920s in Little it have a marked influence on cultural Poland (that is, mainly Western and life, which was focused on the private Eastern Galicia) there were 39,810 estates of feudal lords. If there were Germans, including 31,920 Luther many Lutheran patrons in the ans. The number of Germans in Kingdom of Poland, then among the reached 25,000; the majo Ukrainian gentry there were none. If rity of them were also Lutherans. there was a famous Lutheran academy in Poland (in Konigsberg), then in Ukraine we do not find a single school 3 Paslavs’kii, I.V. «Reformatsiia ta ii vplyvy — in contrast to the network of na ukrains’ke dukhovne zhyttia v istoriosofii M. Grushevs’kogo» in M. Grushevs’kii: Zbirnik Calvinist and Socinian schools. The prats’ (L’viv, 1994), 164175. 186 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #1, 2003 Lutheran Church in Ukraine

According to the records of the Society of Germany. The most well EvangelicalLutheran Church in known leader in Galicia was Ukraine (which united the German superintendent Theodore Zökler; and GermanSlavic communities in during his time the socialcultural former Volhynskaja, Podol’skaja, life of the local German national Kievskaja, Chernigovskaja, Poltav community reached its greatest skaja, Catherinoslavskaja, Khar heights. kovskaja guberniias and the ), With Zökler’s help in the 1930s in 1918 there were from 600 to 700 the process of the Ukrainization of thousand members. But under the Lutheranism began in western conditions of the Soviet regime, Ukraine, led by former Greek Cat church ranks were quickly depleted. holic priests and laymen. Some of For example, on the Black Sea coast them became interested in new alone there were 340 communities religious ideas during the First with 168,300 members in 1928; in World War, when they were at the 1938 no fewer than 10,700 of them front or in captivity; some became were deported and sent to the camps. interested during their foreign In 1924 this church had 81 pastors; wanderings in their search for a in 1936 — 10; and by the end of 1937 better life. In 1925 the Ukrainian — only one. Lutheran Church (ULC) was foun In prewar Poland the Lutheran ded, with its center in Stanislav. Church maintained a fairly prominent Soon it was headed by a former position, making up 2.6% of the co student of the Collegium Ruthenium untry’s population. Lutherans ma in Rome and graduate of Tübingen naged to organize several church University, pastor Theodore Jarchuk. unions, which had rather large pari By the end of the 1930s this church shes in Ukraine. For example, at the had founded congregations in many end of the 1920s the German com population centers in Galicia. munity in counted 3,000 mem The practice of the Ukrainian bers; in — 3,500; — Lutheran Church was based on 2,794; VladimirVolhynskij — 2,525 national traditions; its preaching, parishioners. publishing, and educational activity In the 1930s, of 27,000 believers — on the obligation to use the native that were part of the Union of language. The church’s leaders gave AugsburgHelvetica Confessional fixed consideration to forming its Churches (UAHC), the largest Pro national character, maintaining that testant organization in western Lutheranism «more than any other Ukraine, Germans made up 89%, religion gives answers to the spiritual Polish — 7%, and — needs of the Ukrainian people.»4 The 4%. The UAHC had eightyfive combination of the Protestant idea German and seven GermanPolish with the problems of Ukrainian schools. German cultural and phi lanthropic associations worked in L’viv, Stanislav, Bel’sk, and Stryj, 4 Dombrovs’kii, O. Narys istorii Ukrains’kogo Ievangel’s’koReformovanogo rukhu (New York, supported by the Gustav Adolph Toronto, 1979), 436. Theological Reflections #1, 2003 187 Victoria Lybashchenko

national life added a new dimension to be heard. It seemed that quite a large this denomination. For the first time German community had remained in Lutheranism in Ukrainian territories Ukraine, numbering almost 40,000, burst out of its «German cocoon» and that had not thinned out after the became the owned, native faith of collapse of the USSR. Moreover, the ordinary people. The majority of the number of Ukrainian Germans, in members of Ukrainian communities spite of those who have emigrated were artisans, petty bourgeois, and permanently, is still considerable, due peasants. Later many teachers, to the migration of Germans from doctors, and lawyers joined the mo Russia and Kazakstan to Ukraine, as vement. well as to the official restoration of Such a social structure made German nationality to people who had Lutheranism an inalienable element hidden their origins during the Soviet of social and cultural life in western regime. Ukraine with its particular accent on The return of the Lutheran the national idea and its high view of church coincided with the «German the church. Therefore, although the question,» which was raised under Ukrainian Lutheran Church had only President Leonid Kravchuk, who a small number of parishioners (from promised alluring prospects of 2000 to 2500 at the beginning of the economic and cultural development 1930s), it took up an active position to the German community in Ukrai in nationalcultural processes, ne. However, those hopes were quickly bringing up its own publicists, and dashed by the economic crisis. preparing a series of translations of Therefore, it is not surprising that Lutheran classics, and its own original even now many Ukrainian Germans publications. The destiny of this consider their nationality a ticket to church was tragic: first the perse their historical homeland, rather cution by Polish authorities, then by than a model of cultural the Bolshevik regime. After the well identification. In this situation the known events of 1939 the Ukrainian church assumed the function of an Lutheran Church actually ceased to ethnoconfessional institution for the exist, and until the beginning of the selfpreservation of Germans, a 1990s functioned in emigration. channel for their spiritual unifi cation and development. Against the backdrop of religious 2. One Church or Three? activity in Ukraine, German Luth The revival of the Lutheran erans seem to lead quite a reserved presence in Ukraine became possible and, at first sight, even a hidden life. with the new political situation that However, the number of communities changed religious life in all of East is growing steadily. For example, in ern Europe. The first to «remem 1995 the German EvangelicalLu ber» Ukraine were German Lutherans theran Church of Ukraine (GELCU) as part of the national rebirth in the had nineteen communities; in 1997 late 1980s and early 1990s, when the — twentyseven. Presently, not voices of ethnic minorities began to counting its fortythree registered 188 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #1, 2003 Lutheran Church in Ukraine congregations, it has about an ad Nevertheless, in the search for ditional ten active groups. Taking visible results of the establishment of into account the limits of its outward Lutheranism, we must assert that the mission (speaking mainly about the present church has not yet German enclave), the church’s dy accomplished much. Currently it is namic nature is evident. The church more appropriate to speak of the is replenished by representatives of restoration of its former presence. other nationalities with close ties to The image of the cathedral Church of Lutheranism (from the Baltic region) St. Paul in Odessa is especially notable or by foreigners who have come to as a symbol of the ruins from which Ukraine for social, business, or scien Lutheranism in Ukraine is rising. tific purposes. Even in other republics of the former Recently Ukrainians and Rus USSR, where Germans were also social sians have been joining the GELCU, outcasts, the church did not experience especially people with higher educ such great losses. It is no accident ation. They are drawn by the intel that foreign analysts, in their surveys lectual potential of Lutheranism, its of religious life in the Commonwealth deep theological culture, and its of Independent States, most often church buildings — visible signs of refer to Lutherans in Moscow or St. the church, with its wealth of artistic Petersburg. design and classical music. But the How does the GELCU look? Its church’s movement to the outer world presence is noticeable mainly in the has its own hidden shoals, namely that places of longago German colo its denominational identity is closely nization: in western (L’viv, Lutsk) tied to its national identity. To lose and eastern Ukraine (Zaporizhzhia, that connection means the loss of , Kryvoj Rog, Dnipropet identity, and the church leadership rovs’k, ). In the south (Odessa, realizes that fact. Thus, for example, , Mikolaiiv) and in the Crimea Gerald Koch, pastor of the Lutheran there are quite large communities. The church in Kiev from 19962000, consistory is located in Odessa. The asserted in a conversation that Ger central cathedral building is the man Lutherans in Ukraine are cate Church of St. Catherine in Kiev. gorically opposed to proselytism. In Spiritual care of the congregations the opinion of Dr. Aachem Rheis, in the GELCU is carried out by thirty pastor of the Kiev church from 1992 one pastors, including seven 1996, Ukrainians and Russians will foreigners. Fourteen communities not change the inner essence of the have Sunday schools. Religious church: «A German congregation will education, however, is conducted in turn into a congregation of German almost all congregations during tradition.»5 preparation for confirmation. Taking into account the long period of disorder in church life, believers 5 Кiev. Tserkov’ Sv. Ekateriny. Tserkov’. Obsh of all ages participate in the china. Vera: Prazdnichnoe izdanie ko dniu pov educational process. Basic theological tornogo osviashcheniia tserkvi (Kiev, Munich, 2000), 100. education is gained through Bible Theological Reflections #1, 2003 189 Victoria Lybashchenko

courses in the Kiev and Odessa Of course, the church is not in seminaries. The church does not have different to people of German nati its own publication, but often publi onality, which is characteristic of any shes articles in the newspaper Neme ethnoconfessional minority. The tskij kanal (The German Channel), church strives to be not only a church issued by the Society of Ukrainian building for the Germans, a place of Germans: Wiedergeburt, and in Der spiritual support, but also a family Bote magazine — the publication of home where believers will find human Lutherans in the CIS. warmth and enjoyment. The church The formation of this church wants to help the German national structure began in 1992; at the First community assume its own culture, Synod of German Lutherans in Kiev, traditions, and native language. Just a young pastor from Kazakstan, as the national identity of the church Viktor Grefenstein, was elected is closely connected to the mentality superintendent of the restored of its parishioners, so its future is GELCU. However, after several years connected to the life of Germans and he resigned the post. Presently, the their future in Ukraine. However, the leader of the church is the bishop, loss of hope for economic growth has Dr. Edmund Raz. The GELCU is a strengthened the desire to emigrate, permanent member of the Evan and most of the emigrants are of gelicalLutheran Church in Russia, middleage or younger. Many Ukraine, Kazakstan, and Central Germans from the former Soviet Asia, and maintains close contact republics do not regard Ukraine as with Lutherans in the CIS and their final destination, but rather as Germany. Thus, the «sister church» a transit point on the way to of St. Catherine’s is the Evangelical Germany. Lutheran Church of Bavaria. As pre Predicting the future of the Lu viously, the relief organization theran Church in Ukraine is compli Gustav Adolph of the Evangelical cated by its contradictory inner pro Lutheran Church in Diaspora, takes cesses. Thus, although it is counting care of its coreligionists in Ukraine. on local personnel, not a few con The believers admit that without gregations are still led by foreigners, support from their German brothers who have difficulty getting accu and sisters, the existence of com stomed to Ukraine. The largest munities in Ukraine would be church, St. Catherine’s in Kiev, has impossible. This help includes the had four different pastors in eight construction of church buildings, the years. The strong ties that connect shipment of religious literature, the GELCU to Germany make it more assistance in church practice, attractive to get an education abroad. financial support, and philanthropic Meanwhile, the indigenous activity. In Pastor Koch’s opinion, educational process in Ukraine has it is very important for the Lutheran not yet taken a significant turn. This church in Ukraine to organically means that there are not enough unite its liturgy (liturgia) and trained pastors. Another serious service (diakonia). problem is the lack of religious

190 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #1, 2003 Lutheran Church in Ukraine literature; what exists is mostly in ideological contradiction. It concerns German, but only a small percentage Pietism, which encroached on the of parishioners know their native traditional foundations of Luthe language. Often a congregation’s ranism as early as the seventeenth activists are people who are little century, and not only in Germany. acquainted with doctrine and ritual. A German traveller, after his visit In its doctrinal position, the to Lutheran settlements on the Volga GELCU reflects the tradition formed in the eighteenth century, noted down in postwar Germany. In repentance the traits of the colonists that dis for its collaboration with the Nazi tinguished them from «true regime, German Lutherans recon Lutherans»: the ideal of a church sidered many of their concepts. In free from hierarchy; the show of their current adaptation to the world devotion; the emotional nature of they are highly liberal, not only in worship; the special status of «born church practice, but also in doctrine. again» sisters and brothers. Because of that, other Christian The inclination to piety was churches and Lutheran communities especially strong in Ukraine. Arsenij in the USA and Canada, which keep Rozhdestvenskij, Orthodox historian to original confessional principles, of the nineteenth century, in his react to them negatively. These analysis of Little Russian Stundist churches accuse the Germans of an groups, vividly describes the dash of inclination to liberal theology, non Pietism in German colonies in South traditional interpretations of the Russia. This tendency continued later Bible, acceptance of secular morality, and nourished separatism in the a permissive attitude to divorce, and EvangelicalLutheran Church in the ordination of women. These are Ukraine (founded in 1918). In the problems that are knocking louder 192030s Lutheran pietistic com and louder at the door of religious munities of the «evangelical bro life in Ukraine. Here the «women’s therhood» tradition functioned in question» has not yet reached the Galicia; and in Volhynia — the Evan level of doctrine, but is solved quite gelicalAugsburg Union, which was simply in everyday life. At St. Cathe founded under the influence of the rine’s a woman who is an active mem ideas of the Hernhutters and Count ber of the local Lutheran community Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf. conducts the Eucharist together with Today the pietistic tradition has the pastor; women also head the its followers again, mainly in the south, majority of church associations. although there are adherents in the Incidentally, women also make up east and west of Ukraine as well. They most of the membership. advocate the return of «brotherly» The process of establishing Lutheranism, which, in contrast to Lutheranism in Ukraine is carried out «church» Lutheranism, with its pre in the midst of the clash of different ference for dogma and religious confessional traditions. An eloquent objects and its accent on culture, will example is the story of Viktor Gre renew the practices of a living faith, fenstein, which illustrates one such and a more intensive community life.

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In the opinion of Viktor Grefenstein, gelical directives («there is now this Lutheran tradition speaks most neither Jew nor Greek»; «we are clearly to the spiritual longings of children of the heavenly kingdom»), ordinary people. and are therefore not much concerned In a small flat in the center of about their ethnic identity. Oriented Odessa, across from St. Paul’s Cathe to an active adaptation to Ukrainian dral, there is a prayer room with a life, they welcome those of different crucifix on a table, a shelf with reli nationalities. According to one gious brochures, and a piano in the young woman from Odessa, Lutheran corner. There are no images or other Brethren «are not sitting on their religious objects. Pastor Viktor suitcases and waiting for the Va Grefenstein, dressed in an ordinary terland,» and that is why they look business suit, reads verses from the out of step with other German Bible and explains them to a small Lutherans in Ukraine. Other Luthe group of women. The common prayer rans regard Lutheran Brethren as reminds one of a Baptist or Pente tending toward sectarianism, sepa costal meeting, where believers pray ratism, and a hidden agenda of evan not only individually, but also col gelization, which are rejected by Lu lectively. Aloud and in turn they theran churches in Germany that are appeal to God, openly repent of their more inclined to interchurch dia sins, and ask for forgiveness and logue. guidance. Those present form the And so the analysis of Lutheran backbone of the Odessa community, congregational life in Ukraine gives which has forty believers. It is per evidence of the formation of several haps the biggest of those groups that traditions, which demonstrate dif belong to the Association of Evan ferent models of adaptation to Ukra gelicalLutheran Brethren Congre inian reality and offer various pros gations of Ukraine. According to pects for future development. Grefenstein, there are ten groups in But there is one more church — the Association now, mainly in Odessa the third Lutheran Church in Ukraine. oblast (province) and in the Crimea. There is also a fouryear seminary with teachers from Canada. The 3. The Phenomenon Association publishes Bratskij listok of Ukrainian Lutheranism (The Brothers’ Page) newspaper and keeps in touch with other pietistic This church is made up of Ukra communities in the CIS. inian Lutherans. They also connect The leaders of this Association their return to the Homeland not only explain their cool relationship with with the establishment of the church, the GELCU not so much on the basis but also more broadly with inclusion of historical precedents, as because of in the social and spiritual life of the new reasons that have a national fla country, involving national, cultural vor and, perhaps, purely human moti educational, and interconfessional ves. Lutheran Brethren evaluate the aspects. Oriented toward the culture, national question according to evan language, and tradition of local

192 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #1, 2003 Lutheran Church in Ukraine inhabitants, the Ukrainian Lutheran Council of Churches and Religious Church (ULC) seeks to make the Organizations, and the Ukrainian slogan of its pioneering founders a Bible Society. However, against the reality: «Ukrainization through background of active philanthropy, Reformation!» — because the present the actual religious life of the church day church is the direct descendant was left in the shade. of its predecessor.6 Considering Recently, the image of the Uk Ukraine’s historical interest in the rainian Lutheran Church has acqui synthesis of religious and national red clearer contours and its inner life ideas, this slogan could attract many is gaining steadiness and becoming sympathizers in the present period regulated. In 2002 the ULC had of the establishment of an inde twentyseven registered communi pendent state. It could widen the ties. Having renewed its presence in range of Lutheranism in Ukraine, western Ukraine, this church now, like making it an inalienable element of most of the other denominations in social and cultural life. the country, is gradually moving to The new period in the history of the central and eastern regions. The the ULC is connected with the largest communities are in Kiev, beginning of the 1990s when pastor Ternopol’, and Sevastopol’. These Iaroslav Shepeliavets arrived in territories define the structure of the Ukraine. Born to a family of immi church, which is divided into three grants, he was ordained to the ministry episcopates: Kievan, Galician, and in the Wisconsin Synod of the USA. Tavrichiskian. During 1997–2002 An energetic , he undertook Ukrainian Lutherans managed to re an active philanthropic ministry in gain and restore several former Ukraine, which was appreciated by the church buildings, but they give gre public. In 1997, Shepeliavets, by that ater attention to building new ones. time bishop of the restored ULC, was Already crosses have been placed on awarded the Ivan Ogienko Prize. the sites of future churches — the (Ivan Ogienko [18821972], Metro cathedral church in Kiev and the politan Illarion: Ukrainian scholar Church of Christ the Savior in and theologian; national and cultural Sevastopol’. figure; Minister of Confessions in the The ULC is structured according government of the Ukrainian Nati to the synodal principle. Thus, onal Republic; author of the complete according to The Institutions of the translation of the Bible in the Ukra Episcopacy of the Ukrainian Luthe inian language.) In 1999 the head of ran Church (henceforth — The Insti the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of tutions), its highest body is the cou Kiev Patriarchate awarded Bishop ncil; between councils the synod Iaroslav, together with other leaders operates, which consists of bishop, of Protestant unions in Ukraine, the vicebishop, secretary, treasurer, the Order of St. Vladimir. The ULC beca pastors of the member congregations, me a member of the AllUkrainian and one representative member from each of the participating churches. 6 Stiah, 1997, Issue 9, p. 1. Several international philanthropic Theological Reflections #1, 2003 193 Victoria Lybashchenko

organizations cooperate with the history of the place of their future ULC. work. The number of seminary The cultural and educational students is not large — up to twenty. activity of the church is prominent, Emphasis is made on the quality of especially its publishing work. For education and its correspondence to the last five or six years the Publi secular standards of denominational shing Committee of the ULC has theology. Another specific charac translated and published a series of teristic of the seminary is the special works in Ukrainian with the support attention paid to Ukrainian lan of the Lutheran Heritage Interna guage, national history and culture, tional Fund. Besides Lutheran clas and the orientation of many subjects sics (works by Luther, early and toward the Ukrainian situation, i.e. contemporary theologians, confes the intentional preparation of sional literature), it has also re pastors for Ukraine. It is not by published tracts by pioneers of the chance that the almost totally foreign Ukrainian Lutheran movement. The makeup of the seminary faculty (the committee is making an effort to teaching staff here is recruited publish regularly the prewar pe mainly from Lutheran seminaries in riodicals. Stiah (The Banner) maga the USA) does not prevent this edu zine has been renewed already. Con cational institution from appro cordia (St. Louis) publishes Good aching as closely as possible the News magazine; its Ukrainian ver demands of a national school. sion, Dobraia vest’ is also published In 2000 Viacheslav Horpynchuk, by the ULC. a graduate of the seminary, was chosen The educational plans of the as leader of the church. Having won church are substantial and far the respect of the laity and young reaching. In 1994 the church opened priests (an overwhelming majority the St. Sophia Theological Seminary of clergy are seminary graduates) by in Ternopol’ to prepare church gathering documents on the church’s workers and theologians. Its program history, editing Lutheran literature, is designed for four years of fulltime and organizing new churches, Ho study in the areas of doctrinal, his rpynchuk has quickly reached a high torical, and practical theology. Se post. In 1999 he was called as pastor minary applicants must have secular to the Kiev church, and a year later higher education, know one or two was elected bishop of the ULC. More foreign languages, and be able to read energy has been put into international the Bible freely in Hebrew and Greek. relations by the leadership, which is As a rule, the seminary students do striving for closer cooperation with their practical work in those churches the World Lutheran Confessional where they plan to serve. At the end Confederation and the World Luthe of their studies they write an ran Federation. The latter body is «integrative research project» in still studying the Ukrainian church, which they demonstrate not only which is such an unusual one against their theological preparation, but the background of the world Luthe also their knowledge of regional ran movement.

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It is well known that German Lu are strictly followed. Given certain theranism, in its adherence to church differences in their worldview, tradition, preserved a number of Ca Lutheran synods of the USA and tholic elements, especially in the li Canada are, for the most part, turgy. «The form of divine service conservative in teaching and created by Luther is essentially a Ger practice, and critical of liberalism. man translation of the Latin Mass.»7 It is in such an environment that Lutherans all across the world, just the restoration of the Ukrainian as Germans in Ukraine, celebrate the Lutheran movement began: first, in Western Rite. But Ukrainian Lu the camps for displaced persons in therans from the very beginning postwar Germany, and then in the observed the Julian calendar and Diaspora, thanks to the efforts of Orthodox Rite. Why? The first ex small a group of parishioners planation is the Greek Catholic origin headed by pastor Michael Tymchuk, of the church founders. This truly is who miraculously survived after one of the features that gives the 1939. The preservation of the church its national character. Ho Ukrainian Lutheran Church was also wever, it should not be forgotten that helped by the Union of Evangelical many leaders of other Protestant Churches of North America, founded groups in western Ukraine are ori at the beginning of the twentieth ginally from Greek Catholic back century through the efforts of Uk grounds, too. It must mean that there rainian Protestants. Now the church are other reasons. has returned to its native land and The Ukrainian Lutheran Church, keeps close ties with influential by the fact of its existence, is con religious organizations in the USA nected not only with Germany, but — the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, also with the Lutheran movement in and the Missouri and Wisconsin North America. By the beginning of Synods, which are faithful to the prin the twentieth century American and ciples of Lutheran orthodoxy. Canadian Lutherans were already Let us turn to the doctrinal basis distinct from the German matrix, of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church. having lost their original national Its priority is the strict following of church characteristics, with pre its own tradition, the classical heritage aching intended for all people in the of Martin Luther and total rejection New World. Lutheranism in the USA of different theological schools. (For and Canada functions in the form of example, Ukrainian Lutherans have regional synods, which, together with quite a bit in common, in terms of different interchurch unions, have the their motivation, with the followers status of local independent bodies. of Neoorthodoxy — that is, a return This touch of congregationalism is to the basics — but they consider it, atypical for religious life in Germany and other modern Protestant doct where original doctrinal principles rines, to be more of a philosophy than a religion.) A Short Doctrinal Sum mary of the Ukrainian Lutheran 7 Gejger, F., Beseda o Liuteranskoj Tserkvi s pravoslavnimi khristianami, n.p., 17. Church (henceforth — Summary) sta Theological Reflections #1, 2003 195 Èîõàííåñ Ëàíãå

tes: «We believe… that Holy Scripture fession, such as Nemetskii kanal is the sole infallible norm of faith and (Kiev) and Der Bote (St. Petersburg) life. And, as confessional Lutherans, published on the territory of former we accept as the basis… the books of USSR, we read, that ‘a womanpriest the Evangelical Lutheran Church is demanded by the times’ … if we named in the Formula of Concord of understand the Bible correctly and 1580: the Apostles’, the Nicene, and everything about the eternal, un the Athanasian creeds, the Augsburg changing God and His Word, then Confession and its Apology; the the question of whether a woman can Schmalkaldic Articles (including the be a priest does not even exist for treatise On the Authority and Primacy us.»8 But addressing this question of the Pope); Luther’s Small and Large in its Summary, the ULC specifies Catechisms and the Formula of that it will take into account the Concord… they are in conformity views of women, because women «are with Holy Scripture and… are the true also members of Christ’s Body» study of God’s Word, which is above (Article 9). all.» The church appeals also to the Dobraia vest’ magazine offers works of Luther’s followers who hold genuine theological training to its to «pure Christianity,» that is, the own faithful and to anyone who teachings unsullied by doubts about wishes, giving its main attention to the facts of sacred history, the triune the area of confessing the faith. nature of God, the divinehuman nature Acquaintance with this magazine of Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and gives quite a complete impression of Second Coming, or by philosophical confessional Lutheranism. It is and scientific theories which consistent in observing what was contradict revelation (Articles 15). formulated by classical Lutheranism, Confessional Lutherans (as the with its respect for the Church followers of the «Lutheran fundamen Fathers and the ecumenical synods, tals» call themselves) essentially sha the refined theology of Luther’s later re the principles formulated at the interpreters with their precise beginning of the twentieth century position on ecclesiology and the by Lyman and Milton Stewart in their apostolic inheritance, on the grace famous The Fundamentals. And imparting significance of the confessional Lutherans remain true sacraments, and the baptism of to their principles in the face of new children. Here we see a long list of problems presented by the modern Catholic and Orthodox deviations world. For example, they completely from the «purity of the Bible» and reject the women’s pastorate. In The those retreats from the truth that Institutes it states that only men may other Protestant groups have made. carry out priestly service, and the Even the evangelical segment of members of the episcopacy and synod world Protestantism is considered should be men, too. In the official far from the truth. But Orthodox organ of ULC the women’s question and Catholic churches are recognized takes on a polemic sharpness: «In magazines of the Augsburg Con 8 Stiah, 1996, Issue 3, p.7. 196 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #1, 2003 Êîðíè íàó÷íîé êðèòèêè Áèáëèè as being closer to confessional McWort, who was filled with Lutheranism by virtue of their optimism after getting acquainted respect for Christian beginnings. with the Ukrainian Lutherans: «I For, as we read in the preface to the see a revival of the church on the Ukrainian translation of the Augs basis of the pure gospel, and, as our burg Confession, the latter «never affirms, pure tried to introduce a new teaching to evangelical preaching and the pure the Universal Church. In the best transference of sacrament. It’s a Orthodox tradition there was no miracle right before my eyes!»13 intention of creating a new church, But the most notable feature of because there is, and will be, only one the church against the background of true Apostolic Church, which is fo world Lutheranism is its rite. The unded on Holy Scripture.»9 And ULC for the first time attempts to even the following of its own nati unite Protestant dogma with the onal rite, the ULC connects to its Eastern Rite and thus create a new identification with the «holy, catho Protestant model maximally adapted lic and Apostolic Church.»10 to Orthodox culture. It is a paradox: The ideological creed of the ULC the national beginning of Luthera is formulated quite clearly: «… any nism, which took so long to implant deviation of teaching from God’s in Ukrainian life, turned out to be in Word cannot… be tolerated by the harmony with Ukrainian tradition as church» (Summary, Article 10). This soon as those traditions and national apparently categorical statement has interests were recognized as prio a biblical motivation: «If even an an rities. It is symbolic that the church gel from heaven teaches what is not Institutions begins with the section found in the Bible, a sincere Christian that codifies the «liturgical forms» will not follow such a teacher…»11 ; and obligatory adherence to the foun «Churches which accept compromi dations of the Ukrainian Evangelical ses… have no future in the Lord.»12 Service Book, «published in blessed This faithfulness to the foundations memory of Theodore Jarchuk in 1939 is considered by the leaders of the in Stanislav.» Ukrainian Lutheran Church to be The contents of the Service Book their special calling — to stop ide (and also of many articles in the pre ological decay in the CIS, to renew war publications by Ukrainian Luthe its spiritual traditions. This hope rans, written by Theodore Jarchuk, was expressed by a professor of Joachim Foliushniak, Pyotr Gil’chuk Concordia Seminary (Fort Wayne) of and others) is very eloquent. In their the Missouri Synod, Dr. Curt reform, the founders of the movement emphasized those things that were common for Catholic and 9 Augsburz’ke virospovidannia, tr. V. Horpinchuk Orthodox churches and also for (Ternopil’, 1995), 4. 10 Sluzhebnik dlia ukrains’kikh ievangel’c’kikh classical Protestantism. Those are, hromad Avgsburz’kogo Virospovidannia (1933), tr. (Ternopil’, 1998), p. 16. 11 Stiah, 2000, Issue 10, p. 22. 12 Op.cit., 2001, Issue 1, p. 9. 13 Op.cit. Theological Reflections #1, 2003 197 Victoria Lybashchenko

first of all, a high view of the church this solemn rite. The sign of the cross and its liturgy; second, the made on the forehead is a sign of acceptance of texts «…composed by belonging to God. A cross made with the Church Fathers Vasiliy the Great oil (anointing) is a symbol of the gifts and John Chrysostom, who, as they of the Holy Spirit. The candle lit were not Catholics, did not compose during baptism symbolizes Christ. It liturgy for Catholics, but without may be lit again on the anniversary of exclusion for all people who want the sacrament or during prayer. The to pray in this way.»14 That is, a re banners help to express joy and turn to the foundations on which gratitude for God’s gifts in baptism. the ancient church was built, and It is interesting that the ULC’s «respect for the liturgical form of creativity does not contradict the worship, claimed long ago among accepted practice of world Luthe the Ukrainian people.»15 ranism of uniting a new dogma with The liturgical canon of the ULC an already established rite. The latter, consists of these common church with its many elements, is in tune with principles: baptism of children; mar Catholicism and Orthodoxy. But that riage of priests; communion in both which distinguishes liturgical prac kinds; the real, not symbolic presence tice in these two churches, Ukrainian of Christ during the Eucharist; the Lutherans evaluate through the prism exclusive right of ordained priests to of their classical position. Thus, for serve the Eucharist; understanding example, in its choice of the cross, in of baptism as a sacrament, which is the more simple decoration of church «a true means of grace»; reverence premises, in its attitude to icons (and for confession and absolution of sins the resolutions of the Seventh Ecu by a priest; native language used in menical Council), or to such a specific divine worship; the exterior use of element as epiklesis (summoning the Byzantine architectural elements and Holy Spirit at the Eucharist), the ULC interior decoration of church buil is closer to Catholicism. These ele dings; preservation of the altar; con ments relate to the sphere of doctrine, templation of the crucifix and icons, which is historically connected with which «are not a personification of Catholicism. But in its calendar and Christ and the saints, but an indication way of life the ULC is almost Or of salvation»; observation of Ortho thodox. dox holidays; penitential services This collection of various Chri with bows, sign of the cross, pro stian traditions forms quite an ori cessions with the crucifix, etc. ginal blend, unlike anything in the In the booklet Ukrainian Chri whole Protestant world. The Ukra stian Treasury: What Everyone inian Lutheran loves music. But Should Know About the Sacrament organ music for him (which Germans of Baptism we learn that it is call «the fourth principle element,» necessary to use special symbols in together with the altar, the baptismal font, and the pulpit of evangelical worship) does not take precedence 14 Op.cit., 1933, Issue 9, p. 1. 15 Sluzhebnik, 6. over choral singing. The Ukrainian 198 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #1, 2003 Lutheran Church in Ukraine

Lutheran is not indifferent to folk art As we see, this is not only a me and, to the astonishment of other chanical synthesis of things which, Protestants, enthusiastically takes at first sight, are unconnected — the part in competitions for the best Protestant, who is fervent in studying krashanka (a decorated egg), which the Bible and proclaiming the good the church organizes for its parishi news, and the Orthodox, who is not oners. The Ukrainian Lutheran fer indifferent to a candle, an icon, or the vently serves God in his everyday sign of the cross as symbols of spiri earthly life, but likes to visit tual life. Here we see the Protestant monasteries on pleasure trips. in search of a place in Orthodox tra Young parishioners and seminary dition, and a reassessment of himself students conduct summer school through the prism of that Christian with the monks at Pochaev or Holy culture with which his church has Assumption monasteries and listen bound its historical destiny. This to lectures by Orthodox and Greek synthesis gives birth to a new model Catholic theologians. The Ukrainian of religious worldview. Thus, in spite Lutheran, along with church and of its genetic union with German and national holidays (and also with American Lutheranism, the ULC stri combined church/national holidays ves to find its own worldview and its — for example, the Baptism of Rus’ priorities in the life of society. Ukraine, Memorial Day of the Fallen The Ukrainian Lutheran Church and Martyrs, Forefathers’ Sunday), has intentionally set its course toward celebrates Christian saints’ days (St. the creation of a national church and Stephen, St. John the Baptist, Sts. defines its main goal as the revival Peter and Paul, St. Andrew, St. of the spiritual and national consci Nicholas). And they also add their ousness of Ukraine.17 No Protestant own people: «the pastor of blessed church in Ukraine has taken on such memory» (whom Stiah magazine calls a role, holding on, rather, to neutrality the «Church Father»), Theodore in politics and the national idea. The Jarchuk (St. Theodore’s Day) and call of the Ukrainian Lutherans is as Martin Luther. An important date for follows: «Do not look on yourselves Ukrainian Lutherans is the Day of as orphans, newcomers, and strangers, Church Renewal (Reformation Day): but as deeplyrooted by God’s Word The church year with all of its in your native Ukrainian land, as holidays and church services is a part children of the Heavenly Father who of our life… The heroic exploits and is not indifferent to the future of the virtues of saints, martyrs, and the your nation, its destiny, its way, its righteous appear before us. Here we life choice, its faith»18 ; or this: grow in faith, experience days of «Preach the gospel as if it is spiritual joy, grief, repentance, and specifically addressed to the forgiveness. The church year is a Ukrainian people: For God so loved great spiritual practice during ‘Ukraine’ that He gave His one and which we learn the fear and love of 16 Stiah, 1996, Issue 9, p. 7. God in such a way that we observe His 17 16 Op.cit., p.10. Commandments. 18 Op.cit., 1997, Issue 11, p. 1. Theological Reflections #1, 2003 199 Victoria Lybashchenko

only Son, that ‘Ukraine’, believing in alike; it is of interest to a worker, a Him, shall not perish, but have eternal soldier, and a professor; it is in life (John 3:16).»19 These challenges harmony with the feelings of the are dissonant, not only with the Galician, who is bound to Western position of evangelical Protestants, culture, and the man from eastern but also with German Lutherans. For Ukraine brought up with an Orthodox the former, the call suggests political mentality. But the quantitative indi engagement that goes beyond the cators of the church, so far, do not gi limits of the gospel; for the latter, it ve evidence of a serious future. A Uk gives priority to interests external to rainian who sees the church not so the church, which (taking into much as a mystical body as a bearer account the canonicalterritorial of social development will sooner go claims of Orthodox Church) may to a Greek Catholic church. A Ukra represent an encroachment for inian who understands his earthly life proselytism. Therefore, in his review through the prism of the gospel, and of Lutheran life in Ukraine Dr. rejects everything that contradicts it, Aachem Rheis defines the ULC as one will probably turn to a Baptist church. which «is very oriented to missionary Perhaps that is why the main problem activity.»20 of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church now It would seem that the synthesized is its selfunderstanding. This means basis of the ULC makes its preaching not only the creation of its original very effective. It «knocks at the heart» identity, but also a search for deeper of Protestant, Orthodox, and Catholic roots in native history and culture.

19 Op.cit., 1999, Issue 2, p. 7. 20 Nemetskij kanal, May 1997, p. 4.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Sluzhebnik dlia ukrains’kikh ievangel’c’kikh hromad Augsburz’ke virospovidannia, trans. V. Avgsburz’kogo Virospovidannia (1933), Horpinchuk (Ternopil’, 1995) tr. (Ternopil’, 1998) Dombrovs’kii, O. Narys istorii Stiah, 1933, Issue 9 Ukrains’kogo Ievangel’s’ko Stiah, 1996, Issue 3 Reformovanogo rukhu (New York, Stiah, 1996, Issue 9 Toronto, 1979) Stiah, 1997, Issue 11 Gejger, F., Beseda o Liuteranskoj Tserkvi s Stiah, 1997, Issue 9 pravoslavnimi khristianami Stiah, 1999, Issue 2 Golos Ukrainii, 26 April 1999. Stiah, 2000, Issue 10 Kniga soglasiia. Veroispovedanie i uchenie Stiah, 2001, Issue 1 Liuteranskoj Tserkvi (Duncanville, Кiev. Tserkov’ Cv. Ekateriny. Tserkov’. 1998), Obshchina. Vera: Prazdnichnoe M. Grushevs’kii: Zbirnik prats’ (L’viv, izdanie ko dniu povtornogo 1994) osviashcheniia tserkvi (Kiev, Munich, Nemetskij kanal, May 1997 2000)

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