Sapyelkina Z. Pilgrimage as social and cultural phenomenon: coming into being and development around Ukraine (mid. 19th - beg. 21st cent.)

In the thesis pilgrimage has been regarded as a phenomenon, which is peculiar to the society and inseparably linked with culture. The source base and scientific works have been analysed in the thesis, while taking into consideration different approaches to the consideration of the problems. The place of pilgrimage has been cleared up at different stages of historical development, as well as it's role in satisfying moral needs of believers. The inseparable link of several religious systems has been traced out, which moral and value factors have been influencing the formation of the Ukrainian ethnos, including: via the unique traditions of pilgrimage. The main pilgrimage centers for different branches of Christianity and other religions, placed at the territory of modern Ukraine, have been described. The influential processes of political and ideological factors onto the mass character of the above mentioned phenomenon have been examined.