Authors

Discussion

In the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Russian Orthodox Church has emerged as a significant force in shaping the ideological narrative surrounding the conflict. The defense of Orthodoxy has been one of the justifications cited by Putin for his invasion, with Patriarch Kirill, church officials, and clergy actively promoting aggressive anti-Ukrainian rhetoric. The Church not only supports military actions but also blesses the armed forces, reinforcing the connection between religion and state aggression. It is essential to explore the Church's role in crafting and propagating state-sponsored narratives, examining how these messages are disseminated through various channels, including mediated and non-mediated communications.

By examining the Church's recent adaptations to the shifting political climate, we  can analyze how religious rhetoric has been employed to legitimize the war and make it socially acceptable. Mediated communications are public statements by church officials, ordinary clergy and laity on television, in official church publications and state propaganda. Non-mediated communications are direct person-to-person interactions, interpersonal contacts, sermons in churhes, participation of patriotic clergy in local events - meetings with schoolchildren, speeches at official festivals or, for example, blessing of mobilised persons in military committees, the direct presence of the clergy on the front lines. Grassroots practices surrounding the Church reflect the diverse ways individuals interpret and engage with ideologies, shared by the Church. Through case studies of these grassroots practices, official and non-official public statements, media publications and individual blogs we can illustrate the complex interplay between the Church, state narratives, and civil society, shedding light on the evolving strategies of both pro-war and anti-war activists within this pivotal institution. This research aims to illuminate the ideological mechanisms at work within the Russian Orthodox Church's involvement in the war.