Ukraine-Russia Conflict: The Religious Dimension

The Russian government is increasingly seeking to use the Russian Orthodox Church to expand its influence in Ukraine, but the Kremlin is now meeting heightened resistance from many Ukrainian religious communities and particularly from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate. The crisis now threatens to split the Ukrainian Church from its historic ties with Moscow, potentially adding a dangerous religious dimension to the simmering war between Russia and Ukraine.

In an all day conference at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Ukrainian religious leaders, scholars and others will examine the religious aspect of the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on religious freedom in the country. Speakers will also delve into the ecclesiastical history of the relationship between the Russian and Ukrainian churches.

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The event is co-hosted by The Religious Freedom Institute and The George Washington University. Join the conversation on Twitter with #UkrRusReligion.

Agenda

Dr. Thomas Farr – President, Religious Freedom Institute

Ambassador Bill Taylor, Executive Vice President United States Institute of Peace

Very Rev. Dr. Mark Morozowich – Dean & Associate Professor of Liturgical Studies & Sacramental Theology, School of Theology & Religious Studies, Catholic University of America

Moderator: Subdeacon Cyril Kennedy – Doctoral candidate, School of Theology & Religious Studies, Catholic University of America

Rt. Rev. Dr. Andriy Chirovsky – Founding Director, Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, University of St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto

Dr. Paul Coyer – Research Professor, Institute of World Politics, and Associate Professor at l'École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr.

Moderator: Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett – Senior Fellow, Religious Freedom

His Grace Archbishop Yevstraty (Zoria) – Archbishop of Chernihiv, Secretary to the Holy Synod, Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate

Archimandrite Cyril Hovorun – Acting Director, Huffington Ecumenical Institute, Loyola Marymount University

Anastasiia Aseeva – Executive Director, Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union (UCSJ)

Moderator: Dr. Sufian Zhemukhov – Associate Research Professor of International Affairs, Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES), Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University

Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou – Visiting Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

Dr. Kent Hill – Executive Director, Religious Freedom Institute

John Pinna – The Mitchell Group

Moderator Mr. Charles North – Senior Advisor on Ukraine, United States Institute of Peace

Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett – Religious Freedom Institute

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The United States Institute of Peace works to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict around the world. USIP does this by engaging directly in conflict zones and by providing analysis, education, and resources to those working for peace. Created by Congress in 1984 as an independent, nonpartisan, federally funded organization, USIP’s more than 300 staff work at the Institute’s D.C. headquarters, and on the ground in the world’s most dangerous regions.