Information on the thesis

The thesis focuses its attention towards the analysis of Orthodox-Catholic relations in independent Ukraine. The research is based on the synthesis of the information about historiographical achievements and list of sources related to research problem in the way of outlining the methodological principles. It has been found that the theoretical foundation of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue in independent Ukraine lies within ecumenical position of global Orthodoxy and Catholicism. The subjects of the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue have been defined. The Ukraine-centered criterion has been proved for the first time in Ukrainian historiography to be the one of optimization of Orthodox-Catholic relations in Ukraine. The legal framework has been verified as an imperfect one in dealing with interfaith relations.

The complex of governmental factors that regulate the flow and dynamics of the dialogue has been developed outlining its delimitation stages. The characteristics of the state policy in both religious and ecclesiastical spheres have been revealed. A suitable model of effective regulation of religious conflicts has been suggested. The positive and negative issues of state policy in religious and church relations have been defined. The relationship between political and religious essences in the context of Orthodox-Catholic relations as well as the place and role of churches in social and political processes have been analyzed. Political aspirations of the Orthodox-Catholic religious environment as well as religious attraction among Ukrainian politicians have been discussed and highlighted. The basic models of the Local Church creation in Ukraine have been investigated by highlighting the position of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches in this context. The basic directions of cooperation between the Orthodox and Catholic communities in the national and cultural sphere have been revealed. The Orthodox-Catholic cooperation has been confirmed to be the most effective in the social and cultural sphere. The condition and the prospects of Orthodox-Catholic relations concerning theological and dogmatic as well as ritual and religious contexts have been discussed and outlined. The theological and dogmatic dialogue has been verified to have little progress due to the conservative religious position in interpreting dogmatic beliefs. A cult and ritual dialogue seems to be more liberal as it is observed as a common practice of mutual concessions and subservience.

Key words: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, confession, confessional conflict, relationship, dialogue, ecumenism, state, church, AUCCRO, religious and church, social and political, national and cultural, theological and dogmatic cult and ritual factors.