Paganism in Ukraine: Its Beliefs, Encounter with Christianity, and Survival
© V. Proshak, 2006 Vitaliy PROSHAK, Zaporozie, Ukraine
“…the past decade has seen a revival of neo paganism in Ukraine…”1 his article presents an overview of Ukrainian paganism Tas the main pre Christian religion in Ukraine, explains its encounter with Christianity, and evaluates the reasons for the rising interest in paganism in modern day Ukraine. The first part of the article shows that Ukrainian pagan beliefs could have a connection with ancient Asian religions because of trade routes from India and China to the Roman Empire that passed through the lands of modern day Ukraine. The second part of the article demonstrates that Ukraine was already partly Christian even before its official Christianization due to the missionary outreach of the apostle Andrew, Greek colonization, and the political Vitaliy Valentynovych influence of Byzantium and Rome. The third part of the Proshak is a researcher article presents a short overview of neo paganism in in the Theological Department of Utrecht Ukraine and its international connections. The conclusion University, the of the article responds to the two main reasons for rising Netherlands, where he is interest in paganism in Ukraine: the issue of national pursuing his PhD in identity and the essence of Christianity itself. Philosophy of Religious Education. Before entering the doctoral Paganism in Ukraine program he received the Master of Divinity and As one of the world religions, paganism is, of course, Master of Evangelical present in Ukraine. It is impossible to say when paganism Theology degrees at “came” to Ukraine. However, neither are there sufficient Tyndale Theological historical sources indicating that paganism has always been Seminary in Amsterdam. He also works with in Ukraine. One thing is clear—according to the sixth cen Zaporozhye Bible College tury Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea, paganism and Seminary in Ukraine is the main pre Christian religion in Ukraine.2 where he received his Bachelor’s Degree and 1 Andrij Yurash, “Ukraine,” in Religions of the World, J. Gordon Melt taught full time until on and Martin Baumann, eds., vol. 4, (Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC June 2003 when he left CLIO, Inc.: 2002), 1321. to further his education. 2 Bohdan Kravtsiw and Bohdan Medwidsky, “Mythology,” Encyclopedia of Ukraine, n.d., 140 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #7, 2006 Paganism in Ukraine Pagan Beliefs in Ukraine tsi) and ancestor spirits,9 but still The Encyclopedia of Ukraine speaks held to its general description as a 10 of four main periods in the develop polytheistic religion. ment of paganism in Ukraine. Arche Scholars who have explored the ological investigations along the history of paganism in Ukraine cannot Dnieper, Don, and Dniester rivers re explain the fact that there is a third vealed that the first inhabitants of phase in its development that is this land (3500 2700 BC) lived in large radically opposed to the previous two. villages with as many as 600 700 peo Bohdan Kravtsiw and Bohdan ple, and had a “culture rich in magi Medwidsky in their article in cal rituals and supernatural be Ukrainian Mythology state that liefs.”3 The characteristic belief of during this phase paganism changed the earliest period was animism—the its nature from polytheistic animism 11 simple belief in the existence of su to monotheism. This was the time pernatural beings4 which explains when all of the deities were organized death, dreams, visions, and natural in the doctrinal pantheon with Svaroh phenomena.5 Animism was expressed being the supreme god. Later, in Ukrainian paganism in the belief in however, the religious system was the existence of good (berehyni) and changed and Perun came on the scene, evil (upyry, demony) spirits,6 a prim subdued Svaroh, and took authority itive form of ethno religious dual over the pantheon. ism.7 It should be noted that this devel During this period the ancestors opment in the doctrines of paganism of the Ukrainian nation, the Cimme from animism to Perun’s supremacy rians, as Homer in the Odyssey called does not mean that all other pagan the nation that lived on the northern gods were forgotten and not wor shore of the Black Sea in the eighth shiped anymore. Development in doc century BC,8 also worshiped a mythi trines did not eliminate the previous cal hero horseman. Animism devel beliefs, but added to them the su oped later this period into the worship premacy of a new god without neglect of fertility gods (Rod and the rozhany ing to worship to the old ones. AddButton=/pages/m/y/mythology.htm> (24 pages\P\A\Paganism.htm> (24 March 2006). March 2006). 7 H.B. Kuhn, “Dualism,” in Evangelical Dic 3 Orest Subtelny, Ukraine: A History, (Toron tionary of Theology, Walter A. Elwell, ed., 2nd to: University of Toronto Press, 1988), 6. ed., (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 4 Raymond Firth, “Animism,” in A New Dic 2001), 357. tionary of Christian Theology, Alan Richard 8 Subtelny, Ukraine, 9. son and John Bowden, eds. (London: SCM Press 9 Mushynka, “Paganism,” Encyclopedia of Ltd., 1983), 21. Ukraine. 5 D.A. Hu, “Animism,” in New Dictionary of 10 Ibid. Theology, Sinclair B. Ferguson and David F. 11 Bohdan Kravtsiw and Bohdan Medwidsky, Wright, eds. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsi “Mythology,” Encyclopedia of Ukraine, n.d., ty Press, 1988), 24.