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Problems of Post-Communism Volume 71, 2024 - Issue 2
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Research Article

Orthodox Churches during the Pandemic in Ukraine and Georgia: Narratives and New Practices

Tymofii Brika Kyiv School of Economics, Kyiv, UkraineCorrespondence[email protected]
ORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5542-1019
ORCID Icon &
Tornike Metrevelib Center for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University, Lund, SwedenORCID Iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9895-5080
ORCID Icon
Pages 95-106 | Published online: 14 Feb 2023
 
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ABSTRACT

While some religious institutions postponed their religious services during the pandemic, Orthodox Christian churches insisted on keeping their doors open. Why did churches challenge social distancing policies, and how did they succeed in defying state authority at any cost? We address this puzzle drawing on an analysis of official statements, media, in-depth interviews, and surveys in Georgia and Ukraine conducted in 2020 and 2021. Our data suggest that the churches’ historical role as the pillar of the nation provided the necessary motivation and leverage against the government; their success, however, varied with respect to the level of church fragmentation.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Civil.ge (2020), “Georgian Orthodox Church Defies Some Emergency Rules amid Coronavirus Pandemic,” https://civil.ge/archives/343699 (Retrieved on April 8, 2021). Kyivpost. (April 7, 2020). Ukrinform: 7 more coronavirus cases confirmed in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/ukrinform-7-more-coronavirus-cases-confirmed-in-kyiv-pechersk-lavra.html (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

2. Rodriguez, C. (2020), “Summer in Europe: The 20 Safest Places for Travel and Tourism Post Coronavirus, According to European Best Destinations,” Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2020/06/01/summer-in-europe-the-20-safest-destinations-for-travel-and-tourism-post-coronavirus/?sh=570b58cb6e0c, (Retrieved on January 10, 2021).

3. Lomsadze, G. (2020), “Georgia’s COVID Outbreak Grows from Molehill to ‘Everest,’” Eurasianet https://eurasianet.org/georgias-covid-outbreak-grows-from-molehill-to-everest (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

4. Gakharia in his official Facebook video conference, 09:06 min, 2020 https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=514457039492454&ref=watch_permalink (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

5. Netgazeti (2020). Batoni premieri brdzandeboda sapatriarqoshi—dekanozi jaghmaidze [Mr. Prime Minister was at the Patriarchate—Priest Jaghmaidze]. https://netgazeti.ge/news/436408/ (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

6. Netgazeti (2020b) Ilia II koronavirusze: khilva mqonda, tskhenze mjdomma adamianma gadamifrina haershi [Ilia II on the coronavirus: I had a vision, a man on a horse flew over my head]. https://netgazeti.ge/news/430931/ (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

7. Kekelia (2020) Dekanozi shalva: sanam es kvekana arsebobas ar shetskvets, erti kovzit ziarebas ar shevacherebt [Priest Shalva: as long as this country exists, communion with one spoon will not stop] in Tabula April 25, 2020, https://tabula.ge/ge/news/645044-dekanozi-shalva-sanam-es-kveqana-arsebobas-ar (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

8. Netgazeti (2020c) Meufe grigoli: khati itsmindeba vardis tskalshi dasvelebuli chvrit [Bishop Grigol: the icon is cleaned with a cloth soaked in rosewater]. https://netgazeti.ge/news/432377/ (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

9. Netgazeti (2020d). Sapatriarqo koronavirusis gamo saerto kovzidan ziarebis tsesis shecvlas ar apirebs [Patriarchate does not plan to change the rule of communion from the same spoon because of the coronavirus]. https://netgazeti.ge/news/430855/ (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

10. Denysenko (2020). “Do the Sacraments Prevent Illness? A Survey of Liturgical Sources.” https://publicorthodoxy.org/2020/03/19/do-the-sacraments-prevent-illness/#more-6144 (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

11. Hovorun (2020). “Covid-19 and Christian (?) Dualism,” Public Orthodoxy. https://publicorthodoxy.org/2020/03/23/covid-19-and-dualism/ (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

12. Vinogradov (2020). “Communion Beyond the Eucharist in Pandemic Time.” https://publicorthodoxy.org/2020/04/22/communion-beyond-the-eucharist/ (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

13. Netgazeti (2020a, 1 March) Mitropoliti nikolozi: ghvino, romelic bardzimshi siskhlad gardaiqmneba antiseptikia [Metropolitan Nikoloz: Wine that turns into blood in chalice is an antiseptic]. https://netgazeti.ge/news/430913/ (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

14. Priest Jagmaidze cited in Civil Georgia (2020). https://civil.ge/archives/347100 (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

15. Civil Georgia (2020). GYLA: Granting Ownership of Forests to Orthodox Church “Discriminatory.” https://civil.ge/archives/355218 (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

16. Maisuradze (2020), Eklesia, virusi da logosi [Church, virus, and logos] (https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/ეკლესია-ვირუსი-და-ლოგოსი/30532502.html (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

18. OC Media (2020). Georgian Orthodox Church remains unyielding as Easter celebrations approach. https://oc-media.org/georgian-orthodokh-church-remains-unyielding-as-easter-celebrations-approach/ (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

24. Inter (March 27, 2020). “We are ringing the bells because their waves destroy infections” (5:58) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcPLJcXTP3U. (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

41. Casanova, J. (February 17, 2021). Revisiting Religious Pluralism in Ukraine (Jose Casanova). Seminar at Harvard University Ukrainian Research Institute. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwJwDH5wsmc (Retrieved on April 8, 2021).

42. These interviews were collected by our colleague in Ukraine who conducted 8 in-depth interviews with priests and active believers of the OCU, 3 priests of the UCO-MP, 2 priests of the UGCC, and additionally 1 interview with an active believer of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s of Constantinople mission. These data were collected within another project. We discuss only some parts of the results which are relevant for the current paper.

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