Subjectivity of the Church in modern state-church relations

• Published in: Volinsʹkij blagovìsnik Vol. 8; pp. 311 - 330
• Main Author: Liudmyla Fylypovych
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Ukrainian
• Published: EIKΩN, publishing house of the Volyn Orthodox Theological Academy 01.10.2020
• Subjects: church; concept of scr; freedom of the church; law on freedom of conscience; models of scr; partnership; state; state-church relations (scr)
• ISSN: 2519-4348
• DOI: 10.33209/2519-4348-2707-9627-2020-8-87

The article analyzes state and church approaches to the relationship between the State and the Church on the basis of Ukrainian legislation and social concepts of churches. The main task of the state is to guarantee freedom of conscience to citizens and to provide conditions for the functioning of religious organizations. The Church also assumes certain responsibilities to the state and society. The article provides an overview of the attitude of the Orthodox churches to power, focusing in detail on their social concepts. Special attention is paid to the recent document of the Ecumenical Patriarchate «For the Life of the World». Referring to the practice of state-church relations (SCR) in Ukraine, the author believes that the parties (subjects), building partnerships, do not always follow the rules of partnership between Church and State. The author allows the possibility of making mutual demands of the Church and the State, contextualizing their needs. At the same time, the State must get rid of the remnants of Soviet control over the activities of the church, and the Church must become an equal partner of the state, become a worthy subject of the SCR.