Duchowość chrześcijańska dawnej Rusi – Ukrainy

Abstract

Considering Christian spirituality we can speak of its different kinds depending on which nation of the big family of Christian nations we analyse. This is particularly justified in the case of eastern Christianity, where the process of inculturation influences theology, liturgy and spirituality very clearly. Eastern Slavs joined the christened peoples rather late – at the time when the basic framework of ecclesiastical life had already been formed. The spirituality of the Kiev Ruthenia continued Greek and Byzantine traditions but it adjusted the accepted patterns to its individual character thus creating its own profile of sainthood. The paper presents a few examples of the most widely-known saints of ancient Ruthenia and classifies them in several groups (monk, martyr and ruler saints). In this way a picture of spirituality of the first centuries of Christianity in Ruthenia – Ukraine is sketched. It is to this old, genuine spirituality, enriched by peculiar, national characteristics, that Ukraine – now undergoing its revival process – turns in search of identity of Christian roots.