The Role of the Church in the New Russia

The close relationship between church and state has a long history in Russia. After the demise of the Soviet Union, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) was in many respects faced with a completely new situation. After a period of suppression or toleration within highly restricted boundaries, it was now able to act with a large and unaccustomed degree of freedom. At the same time, it had to seek out a place for itself in the new structure of Russian society. This was not an easy task for the ROC. Today, the church regards itself as a representative of the interests of the people, which does not necessarily imply opposition to the government. The ROC believes that both former president Vladimir Putin and his successor Dmitry Medvedev are faithful stewards of these interests. The state, in turn, regards the church as a guarantor of social cohesion. The majority of the population trusts the church and regards it as an institution capable of communicating values and strengthening unity within society. Both state and church will have to prove that these positions offer a sufficient response to the challenges of a globalized world.