Ethnic religions of the Baltic nations are investigated for the first time in Ukrainian Religious Studies; they have been the factor of national and cultural identification at the breaking points of their history, when there has been a threat of assimilation or disappearing (violent Christianization of the Middle Ages, statehood formation in the first part of the XX century), and also at the contemporary stage, when globalization processes sharpen the problem of national and cultural identity. It is found out that there are no special researches dedicated to ethnic religions of the Baltic nations in the aspect of national and cultural identification in Ukrainian and Baltic Religious Studies.
It is confirmed that the Baltic nations showed desperate resistance to Christianization and that they would rather die than accept foreign religion. Leaders of the Balts, who were at the same time oracles, diplomats and warlords, were leading the struggle against the Teutonic Knights.
Transformation of the mythopoetic world outlook into cultural traditions of the Baltic nations is studied. It happened by preserving the ancient faith and worshipping despite of prohibitions of Christian priests; by preservation of folklore inheritance (in particular, Latvian dinah and Lithuanian sutartines), where pre-Christian worldview is reflected; by reconstruction of ancient beliefs and worshipping in the XX-XXI
centuries; by embodiment of the deep layers of the national outlook in the works of contemporary art.
Works of philosophers (J. G. Herder, L. Reza, Vidunas, E. Brastinsh, J. Trinkunas, L. Palmaitis) is analyzed. Beginning from the end of the XVIII сentury, they formed worldview approaches to national cultures in their theoretical works, and in practical activity, they contributed to the preservation of cultural heritage of the Baltic nations, protecting them from assimilation and destruction. Interest to ethnic religions, which appeared at the wave of romanticism and became a powerful impulse for gradual accumulation of ethnographic and folklore material, gave the result in the form of attempts of ethic religions reconstruction. In its turn, understanding of ethnic religions as the essential (if not the main) factor of national identification became the ideological basis of national renaissance and, to some extent, of state creation in
beginning of the XXI century). Definition of the "ethnic religions" concept is clarified, under which the system of beliefs, outlooks and world perception peculiar to the peoples of Indo-European language family (Baltic group of languages), who lived at south-east coast of the Baltic, before they were conquered by Teutonic Knights and before Christianity was introduced, is understood. The suggested definition was discussed and approved by
Board of the European Congress of Ethnic Religions (2018).
It is confirmed that these folklore genres got preserved only with the Balts and they substantially complement the whole picture of the mythopoetic world outlook, which, as a rule, is built on the basis of mythological system of one or another people.
It is affirmed that, comparing with other Indo-European peoples, they got preserved good enough. It is explained with late Christianization and reverent attitude to national tradition, even under the domination of Christianity.
It is noted that appearance of neo-pagan movements in the XX century, in particular of Latvian Dievturiba and of Lithuanian Romuva, was connected with the task of state formation. The leaders of these organizations – E. Brastinsh and J. Trinkunas – set state formation tasks before themselves and the society, in particular bringing up citizens who are endowed with human virtues. Differences between Dievturiba and Romuva are taken into account, J. Trinkunas insists on their recognition. Reconstructions of religion (Dievturiba) and its renaissance (Romuva)
the scientist consider as fundamentally different by goals and by outcomes.
It is affirmed that, during many centuries – from conquer of the Balts by the Teutonic Knights in the Middle Ages and up to the present days, ethnic religion was the most essential component of national culture, which got preserved in historical memory of the nations and became the factor of national and cultural identification under the contemporary conditions. It is determined that the stated topic remains perspective for further researches.
In particular, the problem of historical reconstruction of rituals and ceremonies in the aspect of religious psychology and sacral art is quite interesting. New pushes can be given by archeological researchers, directed at the search of temples location, which will promote more authenticity in the reproduction of ceremonies. Sacral geography researches may become not less interesting.
