Sacred struggles: the Russian Orthodox Church and the Soviet State amidst the Millennium of the Baptism of Rus

Abstract

This article examines the dynamics of church-state relations leading up to and during the commemoration of the Millennium of the Baptism of Rus in 1988. The research draws upon archival materials housed in the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GA RF) and the Russian State Archive of Modern History (RGANI). The period scrutinized, concerning the interaction between the Soviet state and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), witnessed a gradual shift towards a more democratic stance for the church within the country. This shift was influenced by several factors: the church's own increased activism, its efforts to engage in the socio-political landscape, evolving attitudes among parishioners demanding a more democratic role for the ROC, and external factors such as the Soviet government's need to demonstrate compliance with freedom of conscience and religion to Western partners. Moreover, the desire of Mikhail Gorbachev and a segment of the party-state elite to enlist the church's involvement in addressing crisis situations that were impeding the progress of «perestroika» also played a role in these developments. Consequently, the Millennium celebration evolved into both a religious and public event, facilitating ongoing dialogue between the church and the state aimed at fostering “mutually beneficial cooperation.” This dialogue led to the relaxation of certain regulatory and legal constraints that had previously constrained the ROC. In response, the Church capitalized on this opportunity by adopting a new church Charter and autonomously addressing various internal church matters.