Now in 2015 we have right to say that processes in Europe after the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine 2013-2014 and the “New Cold War” by Russia give strong reasons to impose that “local” event has vivid global sense.
Now in 2015 we have right to say that processes in Europe after the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine 2013-2014 and the “New Cold War” by Russia give strong reasons to impose that “local” event has vivid global sense.
Ukrainians during long revolutionary winter demonstrated to all postmodern world that values still important. Citizens of Ukraine on the 23th year of the state independence seen they can be masters in their Homeland. But they seen they are also the main enemies of the Homeland... Except of political and military effects of the Revolution of Dignity that event grew into great and unique instance of self-understanding and self-creation by the civil society.
Ukrainian protests against pro-Russian politics of president Yanukovych on December 2013 rapidly transformed to the wide struggle for human rights and human state. That is fact all mentioned struggle had dialogic nature. It is natural that such weirdly occasion in the state where 90% of citizens declare their religiosity had distinct Religious ethos. Ukrainian revolutionary movement was not bloody and brutal till police used arms against peaceful protesters. As the result Ukrainian society received the shape of activity to the future, nevertheless that shape still pellucid just partially. Ukrainians are recognising itself after centuries when predominantly neighbours and occupants taught they... Such impression I received after reading the book “Maidan and Church. Chronicle of events and expert estimation” («Майдан і Церква. Хроніка подій та експертна оцінка» in Ukrainian).
That book is the outcome of monitoring the Revolution of Dignity in winter 2013-2014 by Ukrainian scientists, especially from the Department of Religious studies of the Philosophy Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The book contains large collection of expert comments that appeared simultaneously with the Maidan. The assemblage of illustrations in the “Maidan and Church...” consists of hundreds official documents, blogs, press-articles (a lot of materials to the book were granted by the Religious Information Service of Ukraine), photos and links to videos to demonstrate close connection among the Revolution, Religion and the Church.
Thus, attentive reader can find all dimensions of Ukrainian revolution 2013-2014 that articulate religious hues in that events. Redactors did the best to understanding position of different Religious denominations during the process. As a result, religious aspect of the Maidan displayed in its dynamic and static descriptions that reveal reasons and conclusions of the processes. Careful selection of documents and illustrations allow to grasp why some denominations plunged into events of the winter 2013-2014 while another caught in limbo. The book shows alternative visions of past and future in Ukrainian religious communities that impact up on their insight reality and conceptions of their own roles in Ukrainian society. Ultimately owing to collected materials we got possibility to analyse spiritual phenomenon of the Maidan as a paradigm to social relations in post-secular society. The “Maidan and Church...” is a good opportunity to reflection not for only Ukrainians.
historian of religion, journalist