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| Russian Patriarchate | |
|---|---|
| Name | Russian Patriarchate |
| Native name | Русская Православная Церковь |
| Caption | Cathedral of the Dormition, Moscow Kremlin |
| Main classification | Eastern Orthodox |
| Orientation | Byzantine Rite |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Leader title | Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' |
| Leader name | Patriarch Kirill of Moscow |
| Founded date | 1589 (patriarchate restored) |
| Founded place | Moscow |
| Separations | Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia |
| Area | Primarily Russia, presence in Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, United States |
Russian Patriarchate
The Russian Patriarchate is the autocephalous body of Eastern Orthodoxy centered in Moscow that serves as the primatial institution for millions across Eurasia, rooted in the traditions of Kievan Rus' and the Byzantine Empire. It claims apostolic succession linked to Constantinople, developed institutional identity through interactions with rulers such as Ivan IV of Russia, Peter the Great, and modern leaders including Vladimir Putin. The institution engages in theological, liturgical, diplomatic, and cultural activities involving jurisdictions like Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and entities such as the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The Patriarchate’s formation traces to the Christianization of Kievan Rus' during the reign of Vladimir the Great and subsequent ecclesiastical ties with Byzantium and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, leading to metropolitanates centered in Kiev and later Moscow. After the elevation of the Moscow see and the establishment of a patriarchate in 1589, the institution navigated episodes including the Time of Troubles, the abolition and replacement by the Holy Synod under Peter the Great, and the 1917 restoration amid the Russian Revolution influenced by figures like Patriarch Tikhon. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries the Patriarchate interacted with imperial organs such as the Holy Synod (Russian Empire), revolutionary bodies including the Council of People's Commissars, and later Soviet institutions like the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, while engaging émigré communities formed after events such as the Russian Civil War.
The institution’s governance centers on the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus', supported by the Holy Synod (Russian Orthodox Church) and a network of metropolitans, archbishops, and bishops overseeing dioceses across regions including Siberia, the Far East, and Kuban. Key administrative organs include the Moscow Patriarchate chancery, diocesan councils modeled after conciliar practices like the All-Russian Council (1917–1918), and seminaries such as the Moscow Theological Academy and Saint Petersburg Theological Academy. Jurisdictional complexities involve the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, contested territories like Crimea and Donetsk Oblast, and canonical relations with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Church of Greece.
Worship follows the Byzantine Rite with services such as the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, and observances of feasts like Pascha and Nativity of Christ. Theological formation emphasizes patristics from figures like John Chrysostom, Gregory Palamas, and Symeon the New Theologian, taught alongside contemporary scholarship represented by theologians such as Sergei Bulgakov and Vladimir Lossky. Monastic centers including Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Optina Monastery, and Valaam Monastery preserve liturgical chant traditions and practices of hesychasm while seminaries and academies engage with ecumenical dialogues involving the World Council of Churches and bilateral talks with the Roman Catholic Church.
Relations have oscillated between alliance and tension, from the symphonia concept embodied by Muscovite rulers like Ivan the Terrible to the institutional reforms of Peter the Great and accommodation under the Soviet Union involving figures such as Joseph Stalin. In the post-Soviet era the Patriarchate has developed close ties with the Presidency of Russia and administrations led by Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin, cooperating on social policy, cultural heritage with agencies like the Ministry of Culture (Russia), and international positions at forums including the United Nations General Assembly. The interplay includes legal frameworks such as the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations (Russia) and diplomatic interactions with states including Belarus, Serbia, and China.
The Patriarchate oversees eparchies and parishes across continents, with significant communities in United States, Israel, Germany, France, Argentina, and regions of the Middle East shaped by migration from events like the Russian Revolution and the Second World War. Exarchates and metropolias operate in contexts such as the Russian Orthodox Church in Western Europe, the Russian Orthodox Church in Australia, and missions in Africa and Asia coordinating with local Orthodox bodies like the Antiochian Orthodox Church and the Georgian Orthodox Church. Diaspora institutions include seminaries, cultural centers, and charities working alongside NGOs such as Caritas Internationalis in humanitarian responses to crises like the Syrian civil war.
Critics point to close state links exemplified by public appearances with Vladimir Putin, debates over property disputes involving monasteries and cathedrals in Ukraine and Estonia, and schisms such as the formation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine after the 2018–2019 autocephaly crisis. Allegations concerning political influence have involved media outlets like Rossiya Segodnya and organizations accused of nationalist rhetoric linked to movements including Russian nationalism and figures such as Alexei Navalny who challenge church-state arrangements. Internal debates encompass clerical responses to social policies legislated in bodies like the State Duma (Russian Federation) and controversies over historical memory relating to events such as the Great Purge.
The institution shapes cultural life through patronage of arts tied to the Russian Orthodox Choirs, iconographers referencing the Theophanes the Greek tradition, restoration projects in sites like the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Moscow) and festivals such as White Week and Maslenitsa intersecting with civic celebrations. Educational outreach via the Moscow Theological Academy and media presence in outlets like Pravmir and Interfax-Religion influence public discourse on moral issues debated in venues including the Constitutional Court of Russia and cultural institutions like the Tretyakov Gallery. Social services include charities collaborating with agencies such as the Russian Red Cross and initiatives addressing family policy, heritage preservation, and interfaith relations with communities like the Jewish Autonomous Oblast leadership.
Category:Eastern Orthodoxy in Russia