Religion and Cultural Identity in Russia: Contextualizing the 1917 Events

Abstract

Historically, Russia as a nation originated and took shape as an aggregate of interacting ethnic groups and cultures. In the early stages of Russia’s statehood formation, the predominant influence was exerted by the Byzantine Orthodox Christianity. Later on, as Russia expanded toward the east, it incorporated Muslims, Buddhists and representatives of other religious confessions and faiths and came to acquire the status of a multi-ethnic, multi-confessional state. In the vast cultural and historical space, formed over a relatively short historical period, different ethnic groups co-existed peacefully. Russian religious policy thus evolved under the influence of many different factors and through sustained interaction between different cultures and religions. This chapter examines the main factors affecting the formation of the cultural and religious identity of the people of Russia in a multi-ethnic state. It defines the role of the major denominations existing in Russia prior to the events of 1917, in shaping this identity, and analyzes the current state of culture and religion in Russia. It also examines the impact of the Russian Revolution on Russia’s cultural and religious landscape.