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Church-State Relations in
Russia
A discussion on Western and non-Western
perspectives on the Russian Orthodoxy Church
Project by Olivia &

2. Brief History
Rus’ converts to Eastern Christianity c. 945
15th – early 20th centuries, Russian State(
Orthodox Church (ROC)
ROC highly influenced culture
In 1917, Bolsheviks declare separation of church and
state thus destroy church power and influence
Communism Era, destroyed churches and thousands
of clergy were murdered.
The ROC resurges as power after Soviet break up

3. Book & Central Argument
Main Book: Garrard, John and Carol. Russian Orthodoxy Resurgent:
Faith and power in the new Russia. Princeton University Press, 2009.
-Western
Argument: There is a strong link between the ROC and the New
Russian Federation.
Russia has never been a secular state.
The ROC has influence on policy making and the military.
The ROC revived Russian historical heritage of moral, religious
and traditional values.

4. Main Books Evidence
1. Russia has never been a secular state.
Evidence: State religion before the Rev. of 1917  after the Rev. no
religious freedom  after the coup Orthodoxy became the dominate
religion
2. The ROC has influence on policy making and the military.
Evidence: Changes of the laws of 1990 and 1997  faith-based army
3 . The ROC revived Russian historical heritage of moral, religious
and traditional values.
E v i d e n c e : Icons, churches, Saints  Faith, State, and People 
Flag, Anthem, and Holidays

5. Alternative Perspective
Alternative Book: Papkova, Irina. The Orthodox Church and Russian
Politics. Washington D.C.: Woodrow Wilson center, 2011.
Argument: Anti-Western. The relationship between the ROC and the
state is far weaker and much less politically important than Western
analysts like to believe.
Outward reverence for Orthodoxy DOES NOT reflects a real ideological
shift among Russia’s ruling post-Soviet elite towards the Patriarchate's
political preferences.
Religious language/allusions in politics reflect culture more than
influence
Church has relatively failed in mobilizing parishioners, influencing
political parties, and lobbying the state

6. Alternative’s Evidence
Reverence does not equate ideological shift
Evidence: 1) Strong secular mood within political class and
people
2) Less people are religious than Westerners believe
Religion language in politics reflects culture
Evidence: 1)Focus on spirituality/Orthodoxy peaked in the
mid-1990s and has been decreasing
2) Many people identify culturally as ROC
Church had failed in political influence
Evidence: 1)Personal interests have been more important in
political competition than ideological considerations

7. Comparison Table
Garrard Central Argument Papkova Central Argument
 Russia is not a secular country. Russia is secular
Russia has never been a secular state. Outward reverence does not reflect
ideology
The ROC has influence on policy making Church has relatively failed in mobilizing
and the military parishioners, influencing political parties,
and lobbying the state
The ROC revived Russian historical Religious language/allusions in politics
heritage of moral, religious and reflect culture more than influence
traditional values.

8. Comparison Table 2
Evidence Garrard Evidence Papkova
Russia has never been a secular state. Reverence does not equate ideological shift
Evidence: State religion before the Rev. of 1917  Evidence: 1) Strong secular mood within
after the Rev. no religious freedom  after political class and people
the coup Orthodoxy became the dominate 2) Less people are religious than Westerners
religion believe
The ROC has influence on policy making and Church had failed in political influence
the military. Evidence: 1)Personal interests more important
Evidence: Changes of the laws of 1990 and 1997 2)Divisions within the ROC have made it
 fait h-based arm y difficult to influence politics
. The ROC revived Russian historical heritage of Religion language in politics reflects culture
moral, religious and traditional values. Evidence: 1)Focus on spirituality/ Orthodoxy
peaked in the mid-1990s and has been

9. A Lesson for Politics & Our
Perspective
What should the Russian Our Opinion about
government do in light o Russia is that; even
this? though, officially Russia
is a secular state, there
In order to develop are more elements of
democracy, Russia state established religion.
should give freedom to
other religious minorities Garrard has better
to practice their religion. evidence than Papkova.

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In Conclusion
The role of the church in
state affairs is very
complex and is not easily

11. And for a little laugh