Orthodoxy and Power under Putin

Episode Narrative

In the early 1990s, a seismic shift swept through Eastern Europe. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the beginning of a tumultuous new era for Russia. For decades, the Russian Orthodox Church, once a bastion of faith and culture, had faced relentless suppression under communist rule. Yet the end of this oppressive regime ignited a remarkable religious revival. Suddenly, the church began to emerge from the shadows, reclaiming a space in the hearts and minds of the Russian people. It was a resurrection of sorts, as the faithful flocked to churches that had been closed, left to decay, or repurposed by the state.

By the late 1990s, this revival gathered momentum, culminating in the poignant burial of Tsar Nicholas II and his family in 1998 in St. Petersburg. Their remains, once scattered and disrespected, were finally laid to rest with the solemnity befitting their royal status. In the following year, they were canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. This act was not merely a spiritual compact; it signified a symbolic reconciliation with imperial history, rekindling a national identity that had been obscured during decades of atheistic governance.

As the new millennium approached, a powerful synergy began to form between the church and the state, a bond articulated in 2004 by Patriarch Alexy II. He stated unequivocally that Russia could no longer be considered a secular state, as the church and the nation had become intertwined in a way that would reshape its landscape. The Russian Orthodox Church, invigorated by newfound public favor, advocated for “traditional values” in stark contrast to the Western liberalism that was gaining ground. This rhetoric would not only influence domestic policies but would also play a significant role in Russia's international posture.

The following years witnessed a remarkable transformation in the landscape of religious life. By 2008, the Orthodox Church had reported the restoration or construction of over 20,000 churches since the collapse of the USSR, representing an expansive effort to reintegrate itself into the public sphere. With each new building that arose, each weathered steeple restored to its former glory, the church reclaimed its authority in a country yearning for spiritual guidance.

In 2009, the election of Patriarch Kirill marked another pivotal moment in this saga. With him, the church stepped into a more assertive public role, echoing the state’s desire for control and stability. Under his leadership, church-state cooperation intensified. By 2011, Kirill's vision materialized in tangible ways: over 300 youth centers and 150 Orthodox schools had been established, aiming to inculcate the younger generation with rapid lessons in faith, community, and national pride.

However, the embrace of Orthodoxy was not universally accepted. The protests led by the punk group Pussy Riot in 2012, inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, thrust the church into a public relations crisis. Their act — a vivid expression of dissent — challenged the church’s growing power and highlighted the tensions that swirled around freedom of expression and religious authority in contemporary Russia. The backlash was swift, culminating in a high-profile trial and the adoption of a controversial law in 2013 that criminalized insults to religious feelings. It was an example of how entwined faith and governance had become, raising poignant questions about the boundaries of belief and dissent.

In 2014, the Russian Orthodox Church played an instrumental role in the annexation of Crimea. Patriarch Kirill framed this union as a spiritual and national restoration, a chance for Russia to reclaim not just land, but a sense of destiny. This alignment of church and state would define a new chapter of national identity. In this narrative, Orthodoxy was cast as a bulwark against what was perceived to be the encroaching secularism of the West.

The geopolitical tensions heightened once more in 2016 when Patriarch Kirill met Pope Francis in Havana. This encounter, the first of its kind between the heads of the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches in nearly a millennium, symbolized an attempt to navigate the choppy waters of sectarian relations and reaffirm a broader Christian identity. Yet, even amid this dialogue of unity, the backdrop of conflict persisted, especially with regards to Ukraine.

By 2018, the church had established an extensive digital registry, known as “Oberig,” which encompassed 80% of Ukraine's Armed Forces. This initiative exemplified the church’s deepening involvement in military affairs, intertwining Orthodox values with the administration of armed forces. Meanwhile, the church’s influence on domestic policies grew steadily. The ROC’s campaigns around “traditional morality” increasingly shaped legislation on critical issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and reproductive technology, fortifying its role as a moral arbiter in Russian society.

As tensions in Ukraine escalated in 2022, the church’s support for the military, termed the “Special Military Operation,” became a disturbing illustration of the church’s militaristic endorsement. Orthodox chaplains were deployed to the front lines, numbering over 1,000, further solidifying the deep integration of religion into state institutions.

By the following year, the Russian Orthodox Church's annual budget exceeded $1 billion, fueled by a combination of state support and private donations. This financial clout underscored its growing power, making it a formidable player not only in religious matters but also in Russia’s socioeconomic landscape.

In 2024, the ROC convened the “World Russian People’s Council,” uniting religious and political figures to discuss pressing issues regarding freedom of conscience and the status of religious organizations. This gathering was emblematic of a church that had fully embraced its role as a dominant force in both political rhetoric and policy shaping.

By 2025, the church was enshrined in the education system, with Orthodox curricula adopted in over half of the public schools across Russia. Children were being schooled in doctrines that merged religious education with a burgeoning sense of national identity. This strategic integration of faith and education marked a significant shift, redefining what it meant to be a Russian citizen in the 21st century.

As the years unfolded, the ROC’s narrative of “traditional values” became a rallying cry — a lens through which domestic policies and foreign interventions were justified, framing Orthodoxy as an antidote to Western secularism. With a rapidly expanding outreach, the church also adapted to modernity. By 2025, it boasted a considerable digital presence, amassing over 10 million followers across social media platforms, deftly maneuvering to shape public opinion in ways that had seemed unimaginable in the Soviet era.

Yet, amid this revival and reconsolidation of power, the church’s role in the Crimea during the Russian occupation stood as a sobering counterpoint. The landscape was marred by severe restrictions on religious freedom, with Orthodox chaplains and clergy experiencing persecution.

As we reflect on the trajectory of the Russian Orthodox Church from 1991 to 2025, the intertwining of faith and power becomes clear. The church emerged not merely as a spiritual refuge but as a pillar of state authority, continuously shaping the nation's path. With the dual lens of faith and governance tightly interwoven, where does this journey lead? What does it mean for the future of Russian identity, and how will it be influenced by the past — a past continually reframed by the very institutions meant to guide it? The echoes of history remain, urging us to look closely at the unfolding narrative, a story where faith, identity, and power dance on a complex stage, one that continues to evolve before our very eyes.