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The Ethnology Notebooks. 2026. № 5 (191), 1621—1632

UDK 27-312.47-587.6(469-21)

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/

  • Received: 07.08.2026
  • Accepted: 01.09.2026
  • Published: ??.??.2026

THE FATIMA APPARITION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHURCH’S DISCERNMENT OF PRIVATE REVELATIONS: THEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL-RELIGIOUS DIMENSIONS

MARKO s. Stefania Natalia

  • ORСID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5007-7899
  • STD, Doctor of Theology,
  • Associate Professor,
  • Department of Theology,
  • Ukrainian Catholic University,
  • 17, Il. Sventsitsky Str., Lviv, Ukraine,
  • Contacts: e-mail: markons@ucu.edu.ua

Abstract. The purpose of the article is to provide a comprehensive study of the Fatima apparitions as a phenomenon of private revelation in its theological and cultural-religious dimensions, to analyze the evolution of the criteria for their ecclesiastical discernment, and to determine the role of Fatima spirituality in the life of the Church, particularly within the contemporary Ukrainian context.

The chronological scope of the research extends from 1917, when the Fatima apparitions began, to 2025, the contemporary reception of the Fatima message in the context of the war in Ukraine.

The object of the research is the Fatima apparitions as a component of the system of private revelations in the Catholic Church.

The subject of the research is the theological nature of the Fatima apparitions, their ecclesiastical discernment, and their influence on religious culture and popular piety.

The relevance of the research is determined by two key factors. First, the normative factor: the promulgation in May 2024 of the new Norms of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which introduced a revised approach to the evaluation of alleged supernatural phenomena by emphasizing their spiritual fruits (Nihil obstat). Second, the socio-political factor: the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, in the context of which the Fatima call to prayer for peace and conversion has acquired particular existential significance for Ukrainian society and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC).

The research employs historical-genetic, theological-hermeneutical, comparative-analytical, and case-study methods.

Keywords: Fatima, public revelation, private revelations, ecclesiastical discernment, nihil obstat, prayer, Rosary, Immaculate Heart of Mary, UGCC.

REFERENCES

  • Vatican, II. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum. The Holy See. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html.
  • (2002). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Lviv: Missioner [in Ukrainian].
  • (2000). Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Message of Fatima. The Holy See. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000626_message-fatima_en.html
  • (1978). Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Norms Regarding the Manner of Proceeding in the Discernment of Presumed Apparitions or Revelations. The Holy See. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19780225_norme-apparizioni_en.html.
  • (2024). Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena. The Holy See. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20240517_norme-fenomeni-soprannaturali_en.html.
  • Drozd J. (2005). The Message of the Immaculate. Krakow: Salwator [in Polish].
  • Kondor. Luís, & Alonso, Joaquim M. Memoirs of Sister Lucia of Fatima [in Ukrainian].
  • Romaniv, P. (1995). Gonzaga da Fonseca. Fatima: Mary Speaks to the People of the World. Lviv: Missioner [in Ukrainian].
  • Paul, VI. (1967). Apostolic Exhortation Signum Magnum. The Holy See. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19670513_signum-magnum.html
  • Paul, VI. (1974). Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus. The Holy See. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus.html.
  • Tindal-Robertson, Timothy. (1994). Fatima, Russia and John Paul II. Warsaw.
  • Francis. Homily of the Holy Father Francis, 13 October 2013. The Holy See. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/prayers/documents/papa-francesco_preghiere_20131013_affidamento-vergine-fatima.html
  • The Pope Consecrated the World to Our Lady before the Image of Our Lady of Fatima. Sanctuary of Fatima. Retrieved from: https://www.fatima.pt/pt/news/papa-consagrou-o-mundo-a-nossa-senhora-perante-a-imagem-da-virgem-de-fatima
  • (2012). Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Catechism of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church «Christ Our Pascha» (P. 333). Lviv [in Ukrainian].
  • «A Sign of Peace»: The Pilgrim Statue of the Virgin Mary of Fatima Arrived in Lviv. Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Retrieved from: https://synod.ugcc.ua/data/znak-myru-do-lvova-prybula-mandrivna-statuya-divy-mariy-z-fatimy-8486/ [in Ukrainian].
  • Homily of His Beatitude Sviatoslav in Fatima on the 17th Sunday after Pentecost. Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Retrieved from: https://synod.ugcc.ua/ (specify the exact URL of the sermon if required) [in Ukrainian].
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