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Document Details : Title: The Russian Orthodox Church under Patriarch Kirill Subtitle: A New Approach to Society and the Ecumenical Patriarchate Author(s): RICHTERS, Katja Journal: Journal of Eastern Christian Studies Volume: 62 Issue: 1-2 Date: 2010 Pages: 137-160 DOI: 10.2143/JECS.62.1.2056232 Abstract : This article looks at what changes, if any, have occurred since Kirill’s election to the patriarchal throne of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is organised around three areas: 1) the Moscow Patriarchate‘s relationship with the state, especially the Russian one, 2) its relationship with society and 3) its relationship with the Vatican, some Protestant organisations and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. It is argued that the second area, i.e. the Church’s relations with society, has seen the greatest number of changes and that these result from attention being paid to the criticism addressed to the ROC during Aleksei II’s time in office. It will also be demonstrated that the Moscow Patriarchate’s attitude towards and cooperation with the Russian state has changed little since Kirill’s inauguration in February 2009 and that the Protestants in general have joined the Vatican as the organisation from which the Russian clergy feel most distance. |
