Tag Archives: Vladimir Putin

Two “Brothers”: Pope Francis and the Chekist

Cross-posted on the Corner. The Pope’s decision to meet his “brother”, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in, delightfully, Havana (you can find some details here of the way that the persecution of Christians has spiked since last year’s Francis-brokered deal between … Continue reading

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On ISIS, Enchantment and Authoritarians against Totalitarians

Over on his blog, Sam Harris interviews Mark Riebling, the author of Church of Spies: The Pope’s Secret War Against Hitler. The historical ground covered is interesting—how could it not be?—but these passages, in particular, caught my attention: Conservative, even … Continue reading

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Russia’s “Military-Ecclesiastical Complex”

Writing in the American Conservative, Philip Jenkins: After the Bolshevik Revolution, the Communist government savagely persecuted the Orthodox Church, killings many thousands of clergy and monastics, and closing the vast majority of churches and monasteries. When Communism fell, the church … Continue reading

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A Coming Clash of Civilizations?

Cross-posted on the Corner. Over at the XX Committee, John Schindler takes a look at what he calls “Putin’s Orthodox Jihad.” Trying to make sense of Putin’s ideology, much of which appears to have been adopted on the hoof as … Continue reading

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Now St. Vladimir?

After Saint Josef, Saint Vladimir?

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Putin’s Church

The Aviationist reports: A Tupolev Tu-214SR, used as a communication relay aircraft often dispatched by the Russian Air Force to accompany Putin’s presidential aircraft or other Moscow’s VIPs on their trips, has departed from St. Petersburg and it is currently … Continue reading

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The (Re)birth of Ivan Ilyin

Cross-posted on the Corner. Here’s a thought-provoking take on, if you like, “Vladimir Putin, conservative”, from John Schindler. The piece covers too much ground to be summarized in a few excerpts, so I’ll focus on just one aspect of it, … Continue reading

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God and Mr. Putin

Pat Buchanan, writing in Human Events, appears to suggest that Vladimir Putin may, so to speak, be on the side of the angels: In his Kremlin defense of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Vladimir Putin, even before he began listing the … Continue reading

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Dana Rohrabacher, Again

Dana Rohrabacher, Republican congressman and scourge of Pussy Riot, is at it again. The New York Times: …Then came Russia’s takeover of Crimea, and Mr. Rohrabacher had to draw the line — in favor of Mr. Putin. “There have been … Continue reading

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Contrasts: Pussy Riot and the New ‘Useful Idiots’

Two of the formerly-jailed Pussy Rioters have been in Moscow today, bravely speaking at a demonstration to oppose what Putin is doing in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Right Wing Watch (I know, I know) reports that Concerned Women of America will no … Continue reading

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