Transformation of Spirituality: Religious Practices of Ukrainian Youth During the Full-Scale War

Authors

• Tetiana Bevz, Research Institute of Ukrainian Studies of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University, Kyiv, UkraineFollow
• Olena Hazizova, Research Institute of Ukrainian Studies of Taras Shevchenko National University of KyivFollow
• Viktoriia Kapustina, Private Institution Institute of Applied Pedagogy, Kyiv, Ukraine.Follow
• Serhii Maiatskyi, Research Institute of Ukrainian Studies of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine.Follow

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0129-1925

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5353-5637

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0384-3655

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4996-0849

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of spirituality among Ukrainian youth during the full-scale war and the changes in religious practices, motivations, and individualized faith in the context of existential crises, social upheavals, and mass population mobility. The impact of war on the role of religious institutions, including the development of institutional adaptability, the shift to horizontal communication models, and the decolonization of religious narratives, is analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the formation of “social religiosity,” when faith serves not only as a tool for individual spiritual practice but also as a tool for civic participation and volunteer initiatives. The methodological basis includes analysis of sociological data (2021–2025), cases of youth communities, and participation experience of Ukrainian youth in global religious events (in particular Taizé and online meetings with Pope Francis). The article demonstrates that youth religiosity becomes an integrative phenomenon combining spiritual, national, and civic dimensions, contributing to social cohesion and the formation of an inclusive political nation.

Recommended Citation

Bevz, Tetiana; Hazizova, Olena; Kapustina, Viktoriia; and Maiatskyi, Serhii (2026) "Transformation of Spirituality: Religious Practices of Ukrainian Youth During the Full-Scale War," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 46 : Iss. 7 , Article 5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55221/2693-2229.2848
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/ree/vol46/iss7/5