The role of the heritage of Cyril and Methodius in preserving the national identity of Ukrainians in Romania
Rostysław Kramar
Abstract
The subject of reflection in the article is the role of the tradition of Cyril and Methodius in preserving the national identity of the Ukrainians in the northern regions of Romania (Maramures and Bukovina), where the vast majority of the Ukrainian population live. More than 80 percent of the Ukrainians in Romania are believers of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The others belong to the Greek-Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches. Despite the fact that the Ukrainian minority belongs to the same church, that Romanian majority, it has preserved its religious and national identity. An important factor in preserving this identity in the twentieth century was the usage of the Ukrainians in Romania of the Church Slavonic language for the prayers and liturgy. Currently, the faithful and the clergy of the Ukrainian autonomous structures in Romanian churches actively introduce into the liturgy and worship the Ukrainian language. Some Ukrainian priests consider that the usage of the Ukrainian language in church is a continuation of the Slavic mission of Cyril and Methodius.
