Chances are that you’ve heard about the political forces and players involved in the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia. But what may be less familiar is the complex, centuries-long religious and historical backdrop against which the war is unfolding.
Joining us to help unpackage these dimensions of the conflict is Dr. Anatolii Babynskyi. Dr. Babynskyi is a research fellow at the Institute of Church History at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine. He is also the Ukrainian correspondent for the American online Catholic news service, The Pillar.
Our conversation touches on numerous topics: the rich tapestry of ecclesiological and liturgical traditions that underpin the Christian character of Ukraine; the historical relationships and tensions between those traditions and Russian Orthodoxy; whether Ukrainian national identity is actually a thing; the leadership of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky; and the outlook for Ukraine’s future amidst the fog of war.
Documents/Websites referenced
Dr. Anatolii Babynskyi (LinkedIn)
@MrAnatolius
Anatolii Babynskyi, “‘Russkiy mir’ - The ‘Russian World’ meets Ukrainian politics and Vatican diplomacy”, The Pillar (March 3, 2022)
Anatolii Babynskyi, “Split from Kirill is coming, say Ukrainian Orthodox priests”, The Pillar (March 9, 2022)
Anatolii Babynskyi, “‘I have never seen such fear’ - Ukraine’s refugees, and the Catholics helping them survive”, The Pillar (March 24, 2022)
Union of Brest
Ecumenical Council of Florence
Caritas Internationalis
podcast@crownandcrozier.com
www.crownandcrozier.com
twitter.com/crownandcrozier
Please note that this podcast has been edited for length and clarity.