The Role of Moscow Patriarchs in the Promotion of the Imperial Culture of Sobornost’: Thematic Analysis of Religious Leaders’ Speeches at the World Russian People’s Council 1993–2022

Abstract

In post-soviet Russia, sobornost’ has been a historic ideal and cultural resource that diverse actors have used in order to construct anew the nation’s dignity and status. This study analyses the promotion of the (imperial) culture of sobornost’ by Patriarch Kirill and Patriarch Alexy based on 36 speeches they delivered from 1993 to 2022 at the World Russian People’s Council, in a forum purposefully established to enhance the culture of sobornost’/solidarity in Russian society. The findings of a qualitative thematic analysis of the speeches identified common themes (such as ‘true historical path’), thematic changes (such as the adoption of geopolitical discourse on family), thematic emphases uniquely present at particular ‘times’ (such as at the EU enlargement of 2004), themes related to the promotion of sobornost’ at the level of the trans-national church, and its correlates—Russian state-civilization, globalization, and confrontation with the West. The findings demonstrate agreement in the messages of Patriarch Alexy and Patriarch Kirill as well as specific content and style that were articulated only by the latter. In the conclusion, we compare Kirill’s culture of sobornost’ with Roman Catholic synodality and with Russian 19th century applications of the same concept, and Kirill’s entrepreneurial construction of national identity from the perspective of glocalization.