The growing interpenetration between the Russian Orthodox Church and political power
I love reading about – and blogging on – the rise and rise of the phoenix that is the Russian Orthodox Church, and especially Patriarch Kirill’s ever growing political power.
And here’s a juicy article on this subject for our consumption, if you’re in to this kind of thing….
The growing interpenetration between the Russian Orthodox Church and political power, the public privileges which Patriarch Kirill enjoys and the proposal to establish a “civil orthodox ideology” to combat Islamic terrorism in Russia are issues at the heart of a debate on cooperation between church and state. The theme is again under the spotlight in Russian media as a series of events coincide: the Council of Russian Orthodox bishops (2 to 5 February), the second anniversary of the Patriarch Kirill’s installation and the efforts of the Kremlin to find solutions to the long standing problem of terrorism, especially after the attack on January 24th on Moscow’s International Airport Domodedovo.
During the Council, held in the Cathedral of Christ the Savoir in Moscow, discussions were dominated by the subject of the role of the church in society. This relationship is a leitmotif that has accompanied Kirill’s mandate from the outset. So much so that, on the anniversary of his election as leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, he stressed the need for the Church to be allowed operate in society and act in the public sphere against those who, instead, would have it relegated to the margins of the nation’s life.
As if to reinforce this position, the Council has authorized priests to participate in elections even if only in exceptional cases. If, that is, “the election of members of the hierarchy or the clergy in legislative bodies is suggested by the need to oppose those forces, including those that are schismatic or unorthodox, that attempt to use the vote to fight the Orthodox Church.”
The Kremlin continues to give signs of its approval. Speaking at the council, President Dmtri Medvedev reminded the religious leaders of the importance of teaching the basics of Orthodox culture and religion “in high schools, as well as the presence of clergy in the army, two of the major achievements over the last three years achieved by the Church on a social level”. The leader of the Kremlin, dealing with a country under constant threat of Islamic terrorism and a growing xenophobia against migrants from the Caucasus and former Soviet republics, the Church’s presence in schools and support in the military is “fundamental in the fight against bigotry and the promotion of interethnic and interreligious dialogue”.
One of Russia’s most renowned political analysts Vitaly Tretyakov, also addressed this issue. In an article in the newspaper Izvestia, entitled “Ideology of Terror”, he proposed creating a ‘civil orthodox ideology “to fight terrorists. He argues society should be based on a kind of civic ideology inspired by Orthodox values, because “without faith and ideas we can not be truly overcome extremism.”
Tags: Church Life, Politics, Religion Society
February 9th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
IHSV
Is the worldwide islamic jihad, the void of spirituality and the corruption of secular politics awakening Christianity in Russia and the West, could this result in a Christian alliance against further islamic encroachment.