Zaporozhye Cossacks and Their Religion

Until recently, historians and public opinion have widely believed that the Zaporozhye Cossacks were rather of dissolute life, caring little about God and moral values. This view was based on the concept of a religious person, which must conform to the ideal life of a monk, not missing a single church service and observing all the fasts. This also contributed to the playful image of the Zaporozhye Cossacks in the folk songs who can not distinguish between "the priest and the goat".
Recently published researches on Zaporizhzhya Cossacks by D. Yavornytsky, M. Grushevskiy, N. Kostomarov, A. Apanovich and others have refuted this claim, making it possible to conclude that Ukrainian ancestors were deeply religious people that followed the Christian Orthodox faith. Cossacks come out in defense of their faith, and consequently - the nation, resisted the Polish gentry-expansion, as well as the Catholic Church. Living under constant military action, the Cossacks did not spare the life of the Orthodox faith. Traditionally, each new case they started with a prayer, and among them the most revered persons were Mother of God, St. George and St. Nicholas. However, Ukrainian ancestors didn't proceeded deep into any religious subtleties, having for the first place not the rituals, but religious feelings. In the Cossack ballads are often told that during campaigns on the Black Sea Cossacks, without having a priest, have been "confessing to God, the Black Sea and their chieftain leader".
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