Tag Archives: Russia

Russia Takes on the Pastafarians

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

I’ve always thought that the joke about the Great Spaghetti Monster was a touch on the leaden side, but compared with Russia’s response to the “Pastafarians”… NBC reports: MOSCOW, Russia — The march of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti … Continue reading →

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Nice One, Kirill (Not)

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Pope Francis thinks that same-sex marriage is the work of the “father of lies”. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, dodgy Putin crony Patriarch Kirill may be even more uneasy. Russia Today reported this (my emphasis added) back in … Continue reading →

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Mission to Moscow (Theocon Edition)

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

This is about a piece that comes from the Daily Beast, so a few caveats are in order, even if we ignore a headline (“Why American Social Conservatives Love Anti-Gay Putin”) that may not be the work of James Kirchick, … Continue reading →

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Symbiosis

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Vladimir Putin’s attempt to blend social conservatism and Russian Orthodoxy into the mix that is (nominally: the reality is rather grubbier) the ideology of his regime continues. The Guardian has the details. First, we have an unpleasant piece of anti-homosexual … Continue reading →

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The Anti-Pussy Riot?

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Via Russia & India Report: A group of Creationists staged a publicity stunt in Moscow’s Darwin Museum, unfurling a Christian banner, distributing leaflets, and singing hymns. This is the latest in a string of attention-seeking performances by self-proclaimed ‘Orthodox activists’. … Continue reading →

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The Return of Alexander III?

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Yet another reminder of why the Pussy Rioters went to the Cathedral. The Moscow Times reports: President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the Russian Orthodox Church should be given more say over family life, education and the armed forces in … Continue reading →

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The Dukhovnik

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Here’s a must-read in the FT that sheds yet more light on Putin’s relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church: …Father Tikhon wields influence in the church far above his modest rank of Archimandrite, or abbot, due primarily to his contacts … Continue reading →

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More Equal Than Others

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Andrew Stuttaford

Cross-posted on the Corner: This story from the Moscow Times is a partial reminder of why the recent protests in Russia targeted a Russian Orthodox cathedral. There was more (much more) to the choice of venue than simple shock value: … Continue reading →

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Layers of difference

Posted on August 21, 2012 by David Hume

In The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order Samuel P. Huntington placed Russia in the “Orthodox” civilization, as opposed to the “Western” class. Over 20 years since the collapse of the Communist bloc I think one must … Continue reading →

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Idiots

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Andrew Stuttaford

Cross-posted on the Corner: As a piece of political theater, the protest in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior has turned out to be an outstanding success, but that’s only thanks to the overreaction by the authorities. It’s safe to … Continue reading →

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