Let`s consider some historical facts and contemporary landscape of religions in Ukraine. Before the establishment of Christianity, people who live on the territory of modern Ukraine (in Kyivan Rus) believed in Pagan Slavic gods such as Veles, Svarog and Perun. In 988, Prince Volodymyr made a decision to Christianize Rus lands and declared Paganism illegal. However, Pagan rituals were secretly practiced for many years after, and some of them even transformed into Christian traditions – for example, Ivana Kupala holiday (Summer Solstice).

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Nowadays, 70% of 45 million people living in Ukraine call themselves religious. Orthodox Christianity is undoubtedly the most popular of religions in Ukraine – 76% of believers keep to this confession. Christianity in Ukraine is represented by five main churches: Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Ukrainian Roman Catholic Church. Due to many historical and political reasons, these five churches have complicated relationships with each other.

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Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate and Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate are undoubtedly the biggest and the most affluent religious formations of the country. Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church influence on society is quite significant. Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Ukrainian Roman Catholic Church have many followers in Western regions of Ukraine.

Some religious people in Ukraine belong to Protestant confessions: this group is represented by Baptists, Lutherans, Adventists and others. It must be mentioned that the influence of Protestant Churches involved in missionary work has been rapidly growing in Ukraine during last years.
Armenian people living in Ukraine are united by Armenian Gregorian Church.
A lot of churches in Ukraine are owned by Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate. These churches are famous by their unbelievable beauty and splendor.
Despite the fact that Christianity is the state religion of Ukraine, there are also Judaic and Islamic communities in the country. Ukrainian Judaic religious community is the third biggest in Europe and the fifth biggest in the whole world. Each year, Judaists gather at the holy tomb of Reb Nachman in Ukrainian city Uman. The most of Ukrainian Judaists are Jews living in big Ukrainian cities such as Odesa and Kyiv.

Islam has few millions followers in Ukraine. Ukrainian Muslim communities are mainly located in currently occupied Crimea and in big cities.
Particular groups of people in Ukraine practice religions that are uncommon for Eastern Europe, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Paganism.
There are also Ukrainians who believe in God but do not belong to any official confession.

Religious life in Ukraine can be called diverse and colorful. Nevertheless, followers of all religions in Ukraine live in peace with each other, even those who are involved in serious conflicts in other countries.
Peaceful coexistence of different religions in Ukraine can be explained by friendly and open-minded character of Ukrainian people.
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