The Russian Orthodox Church and the Protection of Christians as a Direction of Russia's Foreign Policy Cover Image

Ruská pravoslavná církev a ochrana křesťanů jako směr zahraniční politiky Ruské federace
The Russian Orthodox Church and the Protection of Christians as a Direction of Russia's Foreign Policy

Author(s): Maria Avanesova
Subject(s): Politics and religion, Politics and society
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: Russian Orthodox Church;Russian foreign policy;Russia;patriarch;Syria;

Summary/Abstract: The Russian Orthodox Church has become a significant actor in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. This text is dedicated to its role in Russiaʼs foreign policy, specifically to the topic ofthe Russian interest in problems and protection of Christians, which is one of the most essential parts of the cooperation between the state and the Church. Analyzing primary sources (state and Church documents), the author shows when and under what circumstances this topic became relevant to both actors, what role the Russian Orthodox Church played in this regard and how the topic of protecting Christians is used by the Russian regime today. The study shows that the interest in protection of Christians did not arise simultaneously on both sides and that it is connected mainly with situations where a threat for Christians is posed by unfriendly actors.

  • Issue Year: 56/2021
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 7-38
  • Page Count: 32
  • Language: Czech
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