The report, presented on September 10, 2024, analyzes the role of the russian orthodox church as an important tool for militarizing russian society and legitimizing military actions, especially armed aggression against Ukraine.

The analysis includes a study of the historical context, religious doctrines, and current activities of the russian orthodox church in support of the military actions of the russian federation.

Presenting the report, Vasyl Slychko, Senior Analyst at the CCD, informed that the activities of the russian orthodox church in the context of aggressive war are not limited to spiritual support, but are an integral part of the state policy aimed at legitimizing and ideologically justifying military actions.

The Center analyzed the evolution of the russian orthodox church from a religious mission to an instrument of russian military policy; the theory of “Atomic orthodoxy” and the concept of “Third Rome” – theoretical approaches to justify the militarization of society; the persons coordinating the interaction between the russian armed forces and the russian orthodox church, the role of priests in supporting the russian army, and the linguistic component of the militarization of the population by the russian orthodox church.

V.Slychko emphasized that the leadership of the russian orthodox church declares the nature of the war as “a righteous cause aimed at protecting the fatherland” and emphasizes its “sacred” nature. Military priests in combat units perform religious sacraments for soldiers and raise funds from the public to meet the specific needs of the russian military.

He noted that the russian orthodox clergy use the so-called double rhetoric in their religious activities, when along with military messages, the clergy of the russian orthodox church spread peacekeeping messages. In this way, representatives of the russian orthodox church are trying to manipulate the opinions of their flock, remaining a “peaceful” church for them. However, if we pay attention to the total number of times peacekeeping and military linguistic constructions were used by the functionaries of the russian orthodox church during the period from January 1, 2022, to August 18, 2024, we can state that the military rhetoric of the russian orthodox church clerics is almost five times more frequent than the peacekeeping one.

Patriarch kirill is a central figure in the spread of church militarism in russia, using religious narratives to legitimize the kremlin’s aggression.

The Center analyzed the activities of various organizations that play a leading role in coordinating activities between the russian armed forces and the russian orthodox church, as well as media religious organizations. Thus, in the russian federation, religious and military education are closely intertwined through the creation of church educational institutions.

russian propaganda also uses the connection of private military companies with Orthodoxy to legitimize military actions that are allegedly aimed at protecting faith and national interests.

Answering journalists’ questions, Anayit Khoperiya, deputy head of the Center, noted that disseminating information about the military activities of the russian orthodox church will help citizens understand its essence as a hostile religious organization and, in particular, debunk the myth of the alleged “oppression of the Orthodox” in Ukraine.