CONFESSIONAL DYNAMICS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANADIAN PROTESTANT MOVEMENTS IN THE UKRAINIAN DIASPORA: ORIGINS AND FACTORS OF CHANGES

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the formation and institutionalization of Ukrainian Protestant communities in Canada at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The study identifies key factors that facilitated the spread of the Evangelical movement, including religious freedom in Canada, support from English-speaking denominations (specifically Presbyterians), and the shortage of national clergy within traditional churches. Particular attention is paid to the activities of the Ruthenian (Independent) Greek Orthodox Church as a unique transitional form that integrated the Eastern Rite with Protestant theological ideas. The article highlights theorigins of the Ukrainian Baptist movement, its missionary activities, and its role in the social adaptation of immigrants. It is argued that despite ideological schisms, Protestant institutions became vital centers for preserving Ukrainian identity and fostering the cultural development of the diaspora.