Tag Archives: Russia

“Orthodoxy, Autocracy and Nationality”

Cross-posted on the Corner: In an attempt to counter the growing encroachment of liberalism into his realm, Czar Nicholas I (reigned 1825-55) argued for an empire based on the three pillars of “Orthodoxy, Autocracy and Nationality”, an idea that came … Continue reading

Posted in Church & State | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Free the Pussy Rioters!

Via the New York Times: MOSCOW — When four young women in balaclavas performed a crude anti-Putin song on the altar of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in February, it seemed like just one more episode in a season … Continue reading

Posted in Church & State | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Timeless

We could debate whether a worldly church is less of a menace than one run by true believers (quite often, I reckon), but it can certainly make for some good stories: MOSCOW — Facing a scandal over photographs of its … Continue reading

Posted in Church & State | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Other Russian Cults

It’s not only Putin-as-Paul. The Daily Telegraph has the details of some other modern Russian cults (with Rasputin thrown in for historical flavor, although he was tamer than some). There are reportedly as many as 700 sects active in the … Continue reading

Posted in culture, Religion | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Paul into Putin

Via the Daily Telegraph: Vladimir Putin has become the object of veneration for a bizarre Russian all-female sect whose followers believe that the tough-talking prime minister is a reincarnation of the early Christian missionary Paul the Apostle. Members of the … Continue reading

Posted in culture, Religion | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Enforcing Orthodoxy

The idea of a state church does not necessarily fill me with horror. It rather depends on the state. And it rather depends on the church. Given the history both of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church, this story (via … Continue reading

Posted in politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment