Zaporozhian Cossacks Christians or pagans?

Zaporozhye was at the crossroads of three confessions - Islam, Orthodoxy and Catholicism.


It is impossible to find another date in the history of our country that would have such a profound and diverse impact on the fate of the Ukrainian people: 1492 - the year of the founding of the Cossacks. The first written references to our heroic ancestors date back to this time. They are mentioned in official documents of the Ottoman Empire and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Peculiarities of the genesis of Cossacks, historical tradition, geopolitical and natural conditions of its existence led to the formation of a peculiar Orthodox worldview of the Zaporozhians. The famous historian Olena Apanovych emphasizes that during the existence of the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks, the whole world was a believer. Religion was the main form of world perception. National liberation movements, political and military conflicts had a religious character and form.

Religion accompanied a person throughout his life - starting with baptism at birth and ending with communion before death and burial, performed by a priest. Art was built on religious themes, and a large part of the books published at that time had a religious character.

The holidays, during which people rested and communicated with their loved ones, were religious.