Militarism in the Spiritual Code of the Modern Orthodox “Russian World

Abstract

The article continues the series of research illustrating the formation of the idea of the “Russian world” in the religious discourse of Orthodox Russia. It pays special attention to the manipulations made by the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill (Gundyaev), while preaching and giving public speeches. The study summarizes the idea of the “new martyrdom for Russia” recently promoted by the hierarch. The paper illustrates his support of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 by the formation of the social opinion by the spiritual leader. Kirill uses the images of different wars to draw historical parallels with Russia’s current war with Ukraine showing the “peacemaking intentions” of all its invasions. The patriarch repeatedly returns to the ideological concept of the blessed war, opposition to the West, and the struggle for “traditional values.”