Ukrainian minority in Poland – denominational and religious issues

The article points to religion as a significant element of a nation’s culture and social consciousness influencing the preservation of the cultural identity of the Ukrainian minority, the community of which found itself in the European civilization circle within the Republic of Poland. The religious affiliation of the Ukrainian minority in Poland mainly regarded two rites: Greek Catholic and Orthodox. Since the beginning of its history the Greek Catholic Church, within the boundaries of the Polish state, has played the role of moral and intellectual support and promoted the statehood aspirations with the preservation of Ukrainian’s separate religious identity. The Orthodox Church in the Republic of Poland, dominated by the Russian influences, did not play a significant role in the development of Ukrainian minority’s national consciousness, yet both Churches contributed to the process of transformations in the social and politi-cal life of Ukrainians in Poland