Religious Resurgence
The Influence of the Russian Orthodox
Church as Reflected Through the Media
Studies on Inter- Religious Relations, No. 12

By Greg Simons
July 2004
Almqvist & Wiksell
ISBN: 918965210X
74 pages, 5 ¾" x 8 ¼"
$45.00 Paper Original

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After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the Russian Orthodox Church once again found itself in a new political environment. When the new constitution was introduced, it allowed for freedom of religion, which meant that religious denominations in addition to the Orthodox Church would be tolerated by the State. The Russian Federation's first President Boris Yeltsin and other leading political figures during the Yeltsin years (1991-1999) seem to have shown some favoritism toward this Church.

Once more, a change in the official attitude toward the Church occurred in 2000. The new presidential family, the Putins, have openly proclaimed close ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. Legal changes and official statements through the media have signaled an increasing level of Church influence on matters of State. However, although many Russians identify themselves as Orthodox, this does not translate to high public participation in religious life. The Orthodox Church would appear to have failed to fill the ideological void, caused by the collapse of Marxism-Leninism.

Religion

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