Religion and Forced Migration: Religiousness and Religious Practices of Ukrainian Refugees in Romania (2022-2025)

The war of aggression against Ukraine, which intensified in February 2022, caused profound migration dynamics in Eastern Europe. Forced migration to foreign countries influences the individual identity of migrants, and the form of individual religiousness – on the one hand, it can lead to a consolidation, while on the other, its role can decrease within the migrant`s identity pattern. This article, based on original research, asks which forms and characteristics of religiousness and religious practices have been maintained, and which have been changed among Ukrainian refugees living in Romania since 2022. We conducted a survey with qualitative elements among 91 Ukrainian refugees in Romania regarding their and religious belonging, subjective religiousness, and religious practices before and after their arrival in the country after February 2022. We found diverse patterns of profiles of religiousness, as well as a mix of religious and non-religious practices which serve as coping strategies.