Orthodox Christianity and the Politics of Transition: Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia. By Tornike Metreveli

Abstract

The historical experience of sacralization of politics in post-socialist Orthodox Europe during the communist rule depleted public space from religion. Later, the politicization of religion filled this void, as religion took back its niche and in doing so intensified prevailing desecularization tendencies. The beginning of the second millennium was an arduous time for newly created states in this region, burdened with conflicts and economic hardships; swift changes materialized with Colour Revolutions, as transitional states were chaotic in their implementation of various policies. National characteristics of Orthodox churches intensified palpable transformation of religious actors into political ones, contributing to rising religious nationalism. The above-mentioned analogous idiosyncrasies of church–state relations in Orthodox Europe stem from the Byzantine concept of symphonia and endured the imperial/totalitarian past. However, visible differences make a comparative study of this region compelling. The book takes three post-communist/Orthodox countries (Georgia, Serbia, and Ukraine), and grasps tactics of the churches...