Director Anatoliy M. Kolodny, Prof., Dr. Philos.

The Department was set up on June 26, 1991.

Its main study areas are:

- the nature and functionality of religion, its history in the world and Ukrainian contexts;

- the diversity of religion denominational manifestations;

- the freedom of religion existence;

- church-state relations.

Principal scholarly works: “Academic Religion Studies” (2000); “History of Religion in Ukraine” (1999); 10-volume “History of Religion of Ukraine” (1996-2009); “Religion-Study Glossary” (1996); “Ukraine Religious” (2008); a range of publications on the history of Christianity, ethnology of religion, freedom of conscience and beliefs, church-state relations. Serial publications “Thinkers of the Ukrainian Diaspora”, “Denominations in Ukraine”, 3-volume “Encyclopaedia of Religion” are to be prepared for issue in 2009-2010.

Academic periodicals published by the Department: annual “Religious Freedom” (№1-13); quarterly “Ukrainian Religion Studies” (№1-46); monthly magazine “Religious Panorama” (№1-95).