For more than two years now Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine is a central
matter of concern in the political public and academic sphere. The war has sparked intense
debates on a wide array of questions as well as on its global consequences and backlashes. At
least academic discourses were in various degrees dominated by researchers with a non-Ukrainian
background. This book going back to a symposium held in Vienna in early 2023 gives a voice to
early-career researchers from Ukraine which have been affected by the war in myriad ways - to
say the least. The academic contributions focus mainly on churches religious institutions
beliefs and practices. They cover a wide array of topics be they historical perspectives
diverse religious affiliations the use of symbols in the war ethnic groups the voice of
religious leaders and the role of Europe. The articles reveal the complexity of the conditions
under which the war came about and the depth of the impact that the war will have on Ukraine
its neighboring countries and the whole of Europe. Included is also a lecture by Olexandra
Matviichuk human rights defender and director of the Centre for Civil Liberties which was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. Christina Dietl University assistant (predoctoral) at
the Chair of Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology of the Faculty of Catholic Theology at
the University of Vienna. Khrystyna Fostyak PhD Research Manager at the Research Services and
Career Development University of Vienna Thomas Schulte-Umberg PhD Senior Research Fellow at
the Department of Historical Theology - Church History Faculty of Catholic Theology
University of Vienna Olha Uhryn PhD Research Fellow at the Department of Historical Theology
- Theology and History of the Eastern Churches Faculty of Catholic Theology University of
Vienna Noreen van Elk PhD University Assistant (postdoctoral) Department for Systematic
Theology and Ethics - Social Ethics Faculty of Catholic Theology University of Vienn
