Paper short abstract:

Globalization of Western secularism leads to a paradox: instead of being eliminated from the public sphere, religion manifests itself in a variety of forms in different parts of the world, and “Flying Community” is an example of breaking structural patterns to emerge new place-based practices.

Paper long abstract:

Jose Casanova suggests that globalization of Western secularism leads to a paradox: instead of being eliminated from the public sphere, religion manifests itself in a variety of forms in different parts of the world, and Ukraine is one of recent examples of what he calls de-privatization of religion. The ongoing armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine followed the anti-governmental protests of 2013-2014 in Ukraine, and fueled religious tension in the country and the Orthodoxy worldwide.

“Flying Community” is a group that unites Orthodox and Catholic Christians from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Italy of different ages and ethnic origin, with its epicenter in Ukraine. It has been formed in the circumstances of the evolving political conflict, in 2012-2015, and the group breaks several patterns typical for structure, denominational variety, and stable geographical affiliation of religious organization in both Catholicism and Orthodoxy.

Many of my interviewees referred to particular places in order to provide details about their experience in the group, and to talk about significant (sometimes, life-turning) events. Those places provide connection to the community’s calendar cycle events and contribute to the sense of belonging to the group. In my paper, I will review how landscapes of a small village in Ukraine, a touristic town in Italy, and the city of Jerusalem are connected to the interdenominational “Flying Community.” This paper will also contribute to the understanding of religion in post-Soviet space, and societies in turmoil.