Lent in Russia and Ukraine: piety and political confrontation

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As Lent begins on March 2 for Orthodox Christians, faith is still a front in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

It is a curious departure for two countries which, as republics of the Soviet Union, were officially atheists for much of the last century. Although it has been less than three decades since the collapse of Soviet power, such attitudes seem buried in the past. Anyone who lived in Russia for long periods in the 1990s and 2000s, like me, could not fail to notice the restoration of closed and neglected churches, and the construction of new ones.

A more religious Russia

This visible change in the cities, towns and villages of Russia was reflected in a change in society. In research published in 2014, and based on data collected between 1991 and the year in which the Soviet Union ceased to exist and 2008, Pew concluded that "the proportion of Russian adults identifying as Orthodox Christians increased from 31% to 72% "during this period.

There was an important characteristic in the way people expressed their faith. They may have declared themselves much more easily Orthodox Christians, but relatively few regularly attended church. The same research has established this figure as "no more than one in ten".

Yet even if the Russians are not loyal devotees, there is no doubt that the profile of faith in public life has increased since the end of the atheist, communist state.

The Church has an increasing influence on daily life

Spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, Dmitri Peskov, suggested that the timetable for a national vote on the proposed constitutional changes was linked to the end of Lent (he was asking a question about whether the date April 22 had been chosen because it was Lenin's birthday).

The calendar of the church influences daily life in a way that it has never known under communism. Cafes and restaurants in Russia now for those observing the dietary needs of Orthodox Lentindeed, a vegan diet.

However, this period of rediscovery by Russia of its religious heritage was also one in which Russia assumed a more assertive role on the world stage. In the case of its conflict with Ukraine, from which Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the Orthodox faith became another area of ​​confrontation.

The spiritual separation of Ukraine from Russia

In January 2019, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew, granted the independence of the church in Ukraine of the Moscow Patriarchate.

This may appear to be a subject of spiritual debate of primary interest to theologians. It is not. Given the state of Russia's relations with Ukraine and Russia's desire to be seen globally as a nation promoting a traditional idea of ​​Christian culture, this has become a matter of politics and piety.

This is clear from the remarks of the then Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, who hailed the decision as "another act of declaration of independence for the country".

Pompeo shows US support during the Ukrainian Church

Russia was not so satisfied. Putin even suggested at the time of the split that he might lead to bloodshed. He bitterly criticized the decision of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss the issue during a visit to Kiev, calling it "entirely inappropriate".

It didn't seem to bother Pompeo too much. By visiting Ukraine again in January 2020, he met the Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the new church, in a gesture clearly designed to show his support.

Washington's support for the Ukrainian church has not convinced the Russian church to leave the matter open. In an interview Before a meeting of church representatives in Amman, Jordan in February, the head of external relations of the Russian church, Metropolitan Hilarion, made harsh remarks both to Patriarch Bartholomew and for the Ukrainian church. "It is impossible to cure a schism simply by legalizing the actions of schismatics," he said.

At a time when business in Ukraine has been the subject of more speculation in American politics than ever before, and allegations continue that Russia seeks to help President Trump's campaign for re-election, it is a spiritual shock that has implications far beyond the borders of the former Soviet Union.

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As Lent begins on March 2 for Orthodox Christians, faith is still a front in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

It is a curious departure for two countries which, as republics of the Soviet Union, were officially atheists for much of the last century. Although it has been less than three decades since the collapse of Soviet power, such attitudes seem buried in the past. Anyone who lived in Russia for long periods in the 1990s and 2000s, like me, could not fail to notice the restoration of closed and neglected churches, and the construction of new ones.

A more religious Russia

This visible change in the cities, towns and villages of Russia was reflected in a change in society. In research published in 2014, and based on data collected between 1991 and the year in which the Soviet Union ceased to exist and 2008, Pew concluded that "the proportion of Russian adults identifying as Orthodox Christians increased from 31% to 72% "during this period.

There was an important characteristic in the way people expressed their faith. They may have declared themselves much more easily Orthodox Christians, but relatively few regularly attended church. The same research has established this figure as "no more than one in ten".

Yet even if the Russians are not loyal devotees, there is no doubt that the profile of faith in public life has increased since the end of the atheist, communist state.

The Church has an increasing influence on daily life

Spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, Dmitri Peskov, suggested that the timetable for a national vote on the proposed constitutional changes was linked to the end of Lent (he was asking a question about whether the date April 22 had been chosen because it was Lenin's birthday).

The calendar of the church influences daily life in a way that it has never known under communism. Cafes and restaurants in Russia now for those observing the dietary needs of Orthodox Lentindeed, a vegan diet.

However, this period of rediscovery by Russia of its religious heritage was also one in which Russia assumed a more assertive role on the world stage. In the case of its conflict with Ukraine, from which Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the Orthodox faith became another area of ​​confrontation.

The spiritual separation of Ukraine from Russia

In January 2019, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew, granted the independence of the church in Ukraine of the Moscow Patriarchate.

This may appear to be a subject of spiritual debate of primary interest to theologians. It is not. Given the state of Russia's relations with Ukraine and Russia's desire to be seen globally as a nation promoting a traditional idea of ​​Christian culture, this has become a matter of politics and piety.

This is clear from the remarks of the then Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, who hailed the decision as "another act of declaration of independence for the country".

Pompeo shows US support during the Ukrainian Church

Russia was not so satisfied. Putin even suggested at the time of the split that he might lead to bloodshed. He bitterly criticized the decision of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss the issue during a visit to Kiev, calling it "entirely inappropriate".

It didn't seem to bother Pompeo too much. By visiting Ukraine again in January 2020, he met the Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the new church, in a gesture clearly designed to show his support.

Washington's support for the Ukrainian church has not convinced the Russian church to leave the matter open. In an interview Before a meeting of church representatives in Amman, Jordan in February, the head of external relations of the Russian church, Metropolitan Hilarion, made harsh remarks both to Patriarch Bartholomew and for the Ukrainian church. "It is impossible to cure a schism simply by legalizing the actions of schismatics," he said.

At a time when business in Ukraine has been the subject of more speculation in American politics than ever before, and allegations continue that Russia seeks to help President Trump's campaign for re-election, it is a spiritual shock that has implications far beyond the borders of the former Soviet Union.