Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

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

Brik, Tymofii and Metreveli, Tornike LU (2023) In Problems of Post-Communism
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.

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Covid-19, social distancing, Orthodox Christianity, religion, geopolitics, Covid-19
in
Problems of Post-Communism
pages
12 pages
publisher
M. E. Sharpe
external identifiers
  • scopus:85148373757
  • scopus:85148373757
ISSN
1075-8216
DOI
10.1080/10758216.2023.2166847
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f317a835-32d0-40fb-8d7c-11747d927f44
date added to LUP
2022-09-06 14:54:35
date last changed
2023-09-05 12:44:09
@article{f317a835-32d0-40fb-8d7c-11747d927f44,
  abstract     = {{<p>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.</p>}},
  author       = {{Brik, Tymofii and Metreveli, Tornike}},
  issn         = {{1075-8216}},
  keywords     = {{Covid-19; social distancing; Orthodox Christianity; religion; geopolitics; Covid-19}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  publisher    = {{M. E. Sharpe}},
  series       = {{Problems of Post-Communism}},
  title        = {{Orthodox Churches during the Pandemic in Ukraine and Georgia : Narratives and New Practices}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10758216.2023.2166847}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/10758216.2023.2166847}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}