THE INFLUENCE OF CHURCH BROTHERHOODS ON THE FORMATION OF GROUP IDENTITY

Abstract

Background. The issue of Ukrainian national unity is particularly relevant in the context of the Russian invasion, highlighting the critical importance of group identity as a key resource during wartime. This research focuses on the period surrounding the Brest Union – a pivotal stage in the formation of the Ukrainian nation – to identify historical lessons and assess the potential of public opinion from that era. The study’s innovative aspect lies in the application of existential socialism as a methodological framework for analyzing the development of church brotherhoods. Methods. A comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach was employed, combining a retrospective analysis of the founding and programmatic documents of the brotherhoods with a conceptual understanding of their identity politics. This is supplemented by methods of sociological analysis and a hermeneutic approach. Tools from history, political science, sociology, and philosophy were also utilized. Results. An analysis was conducted of the discussion regarding the nature of church brotherhoods (secular or religious organizations), with an emphasis on the fragmentary nature of early sources. The process of the brotherhoods' emergence was clarified, starting with local associations and their evolution after the visit of Patriarch Joachim. The role of granting stavropigia status (1586) was highlighted as a key factor in independence from episcopal authority and resistance to Polish influence. It was determined that the initiative to create the brotherhoods came from laypeople, not the clergy, indicating a desire for self-organization and freedom. The role of the Lviv Dormition Brotherhood as a catalyst for historical change was considered, despite its relatively small size. The ideological foundation of the brotherhoods, their reaction to the Brest Union, and the formation of a worldview based on the principles of "justice, mercy, faith, and hope" were analyzed. Conclusions. It was revealed that the brotherhood ideology is an important source of the formation of the Ukrainian worldview, and its understanding is of significant importance for the modern process of state building. It was shown that the brotherhoods made a significant contribution to the development of democratic traditions and the establishment of the foundations of civil society. It is emphasized that turning to the history of the brotherhoods allows for a deeper understanding of how the foundations of Ukrainian spirituality, civic culture, and traditions of self-organization were formed, which remains relevant today.