No images? Click here

The Conversation

Lead story

An Orthodox priest in black attire at a protest rally in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Church conflict in Ukraine reflects historic Russian-Ukrainian tensions

Editor's note:

The story of how two Orthodox churches emerged in Ukraine – and the conflicts between them – sheds light on the broader tensions playing out between Ukraine and Russia. 

The older and larger church is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate, which is under the spiritual authority of Moscow. The other is the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which was recognized as a separate and equal member of the worldwide communion of Orthodox churches in January 2019.

J. Eugene Clay, a scholar at Arizona State University who studies the religious history of Russia and Ukraine, writes about how each church claims to be the “one true Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the Ukrainian people” and how that reflects two competing historical visions of the relationship between Russians and Ukrainians.

A picture of Kalpana Jain, Senior Religion & Ethics Editor for The Conversation U.S.
About the Global Religion Journalism Initiative
 

Religion News

A shortage of Conservative rabbis has Jews reexamining the pulpit role

This year, a record 80 Conservative synagogues are seeking a rabbi. But there aren’t 80 Conservative rabbis to replace them. By Yonat Shimron/Religion News Service

Black gay priest in NYC challenges Catholicism from within

Few Catholic priests in the United States are African American or openly gay. Bryan Massingale is both. He uses his platform to teach about racial injustice and advocate for the inclusion of LGBTQ Catholics. By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu/The Associated Press

US Ukrainian clergy, flocks show support amid Russia crisis

Clergy and members of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States are growing concerned over the threat and have stepped up efforts to show support for family members and their Eastern European homeland. By Luis Andres Henao and Peter Smith/The Associated Press

Members of the "Castellers de Poble Sec" complete their human tower during the Saint Eulàlia fesitivities in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022.

With COVID rules eased, Barcelona embraces festival’s return

After two years of canceled or muted celebrations due to the pandemic, Barcelona went all-out to mark the feast, or “festa” in the Catalan language, of its longest-celebrated patron, St. Eulàlia. By Giovanna Dell’Orto/The Associated Press

A 300-year-old church is preparing for a spiritual but not religious future

Facing a future where organized religion is on the decline, Trinity Episcopal Church hopes to offer spiritual community for the nones. By Bob Smietana/Religion News Service

 

Commentary and Analysis

Japan's Shinto religion is going global and attracting online followers

An anthropologist of Japanese religion met followers of Shinto religion online and found how they were building a community and sharing instructions on practice. By Kaitlyn Ugoretz for The Conversation

A Catholic nun is going to prison for fraud. Why are abusive priests going unpunished?

Her sentence is ironic considering the history of punishment for priests accused of sexual abuse. By Robert D. Karpinski/Religion News Service

What do students’ beliefs about God have to do with grades?

Researchers have spent decades studying how demographics affect American students' opportunities and performance, but many questions remain about religion and school. By Ilana Horwitz for The Conversation

The Ancient Greeks also lived through a plague, and they too blamed their leaders for their suffering

A scholar of ancient Greek literature goes back to the account of Greek historian Thucydides on the spread of plague and finds parallels in the American response to the health crisis today. By Joel Christensen for The Conversation

 
Priests read prayers in honour of St.Haralampus, as believers gather around candles stuck to jars of honey, arranged in a cross shape, during Mass for the 'sanctification of honey' at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Church in the town of Blagoevgrad, south of the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.

Photos of the Week: India hijab controversy, Lourdes reopens and more

Priests read prayers in honour of St.Haralampus, as believers gather around candles stuck to jars of honey, arranged in a cross shape, during Mass for the 'sanctification of honey' at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Church in the town of Blagoevgrad, south of the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks the feast of St. Haralampus, the Orthodox patron saint of bee-keepers, by performing a ritual for health and rich harvest. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)

Did a friend or colleague forward this to you? Click the button below to subscribe.

 
Subscribe to This Week in Religion
 
  • This Week in Religion is a publication of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative, a collaboration among the Religion News Service, The Associated Press and The Conversation U.S.
  • The three news organizations work to improve general understanding and analyze the significance of developments in the world of faith.
 
 
  Share 
  Tweet 
  Share 
  Forward 
You're receiving this because you're subscribed to the This Week in Religion email newsletter from the Global Religion Journalism Initiative. 
Sent by: The Conversation U.S., 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300, Waltham, MA 02451
Unsubscribe