The Greek Catholic Church as a Factor of Moral, Spiritual, and National Self-Awareness of Ukrainians in Transcarpathia

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the role of the Greek-Catholic Church of Transcarpathia in shaping the moral, spiritual, and national self-awareness of Ukrainians in Transcarpathia amid complex historical, cultural, and political processes. The study reveals the interconnection between ethnic, religious, and national identities that developed in borderland territories under the influence of various state, civilizational, and cultural factors.

The author emphasizes that the Greek Catholic clergy became a bearer of the national idea, contributed to the preservation of linguistic and cultural uniqueness, and resisted assimilation processes. The contribution of prominent figures such as Oleksandr Dukhnovych, Mykhailo Luchkai, Avgustyn Voloshyn, and Theodore Romzha to the awakening of national consciousness and the spiritual consolidation of Transcarpathian Ukrainians is analyzed. The article shows that the Church, having preserved the Eastern rite and Ukrainian liturgical tradition, fulfilled not only a religious but also a cultural and educational mission, ensuring the continuity of Ukrainian identity under conditions of statelessness and totalitarian pressure. Particular attention is given to the period of Soviet persecution, when the underground clergy continued their pastoral activity, contributing to the preservation of faith and the national spirit.

Based on the analysis of historical sources, periodicals, memoirs, and folklore materials, it is demonstrated that the Greek Catholic Church of Transcarpathia became a center of spiritual resistance, cultural identity, and moral resilience of Ukrainians in the region. The article outlines the significance of the religious factor in the formation of the modern Ukrainian nation and emphasizes that the Church’s spiritual tradition remains an essential element of contemporary national self-identification.