STATE AND THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH INTERACTION IN PRE-REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA

Abstract

The article identifies the lines of the interaction between the state and the Russian Orthodox Church in pre-revolutionary Russia. It reveals the genesis of the state-church relationship. The role of the church in strengthening the state power, as well as the historical logic of the state and Orthodoxy coalescing is defined. Besides, the attitude of the state to other religions is given. The genesis of interaction between secular and spiritual power in Russia failed to follow the evolutionary path. Political centralization and concentration of power invariably turned into the state domination over the church, which resulted in its nationalization. Despite positive trends in relations with other religions, the principle of religious tolerance did not spread. The author outlines proposals for the development of state policy in relations between public authorities and the Church, including active state-church dialogue, including state support to the Church which took into account Russia’s society being multinational and multicultural.

Keywords

• Russian Orthodox Church
• state and the Russian Orthodox Church interaction
• state
• secular power
• religious power
• state-church relationship