On the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in bringing the religious space of Russia in accordance with the Constitution

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Bringing the religious space of Russia into conformity with the Constitution requires replacing the patience in the matters of faith as a principle of the organization of the religious sphere by religious tolerance. Among the religious communities of the country, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) should play an important role in this process. The study of the role of the ROC in the constitutionalization of the religious space of Russia was not of great interest to science. The special cultural, historical, and spiritual role of Orthodoxy for Russia creates the prerequisites for the leading place of the ROC in this process. Meanwhile, a number of obstacles prevents the ROC from taking this place. The purpose of the study is to identify such obstacles and propose approaches to overcome them. The basis of the research methodology is the dialectic, supplemented by elements of a number of other approaches. Research methods are historical, relatively legal and logical analysis, synthesis, surveys. During the study, the authors interviewed more than nine hundred respondents in six countries, including about 700 individuals who identified themselves as persons of faith. The study showed a reduced level of respectfulness from persons of a different faith for the ROC in comparison with their respectfulness to the Orthodox faith. To change the situation, the ROC should begin by recognizing the historical mistakes of Orthodoxy towards people of a different faith, refusing patience in matters of faith in favor of religious tolerance, and establishing the real number of observers of Orthodox faith in Russia. The relevance of the study is due to the accumulation of prerequisites in a society of disrespect for the ROC. In addition, with the adoption of the UN GA Resolution on Religious Tolerance, supported by Russia, the role of the ROC in bringing the religious space into accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation should increase. In conclusion, possessing the potential signs of a religious leader in bringing the religious space of Russia in accordance with the Constitution, the ROC is in fact not fully prepared for such a role. It is necessary to take a number of measures to change the situation.