The beginnings of talk of the symphony of church and state in the Eastern churches
About the book:
Even in the 21st century, religion in Eastern Europe has enormous political explosive power. The fact that the Orthodox churches are closely linked to states and nationalities is dramatically demonstrated by the war in Ukraine: None other than the Moscow Patriarch supports the Kremlin’s war rhetoric so clearly. However, the Orthodox churches are also highly politically relevant in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. This is remarkable, as Eastern Europe was characterized by an atheistic state for a large part of the 20th century: the Soviet Union. While today large parts of the population hardly practise any religion in their everyday lives, membership of Orthodox Christianity is increasingly becoming a political commitment. This book examines the complex relationship between religion and politics in Eastern Europe, combining perspectives on current events with historical backgrounds.
