Sudyn D. Social functions of national myths.

Object: national myths that are widespread in contemporary Ukrainian society and their significance in contentment of major social needs. Aim: elaboration of concept of national myths and their social functions, and finding out degree of widespreadness of national myths and power of influence of their social functions in Ukrainian society in the beginning of 21st century. Methods: analysis and synthesis; systemic methods; classification, mass survey; mathematic methods of analysis of statistic databases. Theoretical and practical results: propounded and proved author concept of national myths; evolved sociological theoretical model of nation as social system; proved that role of national myths consists in supporting and reproduction of national identity; operationalization of functions and kinds of national myth for empirical surveys is done; propounded list of main kinds of national myths; got verification of main statements of theoretical concept of national myths, extended understanding of mechanisms of functioning of national myths and their connection to national identity. Novelty: elaboration and grounding of sociological concept of national myths and classification of functions fulfilled by them, and analysis of their widespreadness in mass-consciousness and peculiarity of their realization in contemporary Ukrainian society. Degree of implementation: the research results use in teaching the courses "Ethnosociology", "Sociology of knowldegde", "Sociology of Culture", "History and collective memory", "Sociology of myth" for the students of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.