The Russian Orthodox Church has had an incredibly fascinating story during its long history in Russia, where its status, political as well as economic power has drastically changed over the course of its existence. The church has gone from being almost completely undistinguishable from the sovereign power during the Russian Empire to nearly being completely wiped out by the times of the communist regime in the soviet era, who saw it as a threat to the revolutionary ideas. But how is the Russian Orthodox Church viewed in today's Russia? The aim of this study is to analyse the ways in which the ruling government is trying to portray the Russian Orthodox Church and its role in society on the largest and oldest television channel in Russia, Channel One Russia. How is the Russian Orthodox Church legitimized by the power and what are the government's reasons for the strong cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church? This essay is based upon the theory of cultural production and its insight into that the fact that the dominant groups in a society have more power to influence the public discourse. In order to remain dominant these groups will try to create legitimacy for the social structures which have granted them the dominant position, one way to achieve this is by using the mass media as a tool. The television broadcasts that have served as the material for this essay have been analysed by using a combination of qualitative content analysis and a critical discourse analysis. The results of the study show that the Russian Orthodox Church is being depicted in an overwhelmingly positive light on the television channel. It is being portrayed as an integral part of the Russian identity, as an element that cannot be separated from the Russian people and their history. The Russian Orthodox Church is being viewed as a shield against the anomie of the outside world that prevents the country's degradation into a chaotic darkness. In this constructed view, where all the positive attributes are being assigned to one’s own group while condemning everything foreign the Russian Orthodox Church serves as a supporting force for the country's politics as well as a tool uniting the nation around the Russian leaders.

The adoption of laws in the Russian Federation prohibiting propaganda of homosexuality and “non-traditional sexual relationships” to minors at the regional and federal levels, respectively, has raised questions regarding the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in politics. This project shall evaluate public statements by clerics and other figures serving in the Orthodox Church from 2011 through 2013, as well as interviews conducted with clerics of the Moscow Patriarchate in order to analyze the strategies employed when arguing against public expressions of homosexuality. Drawing upon the concepts of framing and morality policy, I will argue that secular, rational-instrumental arguments have prevailed over moral-religious and procedural appeals. In addition, I will show that transformative framing by some Church figures points to ambitions for more comprehensive moral and religious changes at the individual level, and religious, societal, and legislative changes at the national level in Russia.

The Syriac Orthodox Church is one of the oldest churches in the world. It employs the oldest surviving worships in Christianity. The Syriac Orthodox Church has about 5.5 million members, with only 231 remaining churches. This project explores the most important and traditional elements for a church, with a focus on the developing possibilities on traditional structure into contemporary approach. A modern proposal in Södertälje Centrum for both religious and non-religious people.

The aim of the present paper is to better understand the reality of religious pluralism, itscauses and the possibilities by which this situation could be maximized in the sense oftrying to reach a satisfactory agreement for all parties involved through reflections onpluralism. Corollary, it seeks to deepen the understanding on the topic ofmulticulturalism with a focus on the field of religious and political theory on topics suchas minorities, religious and cultural pluralism, liberal multiculturalism. In trying tosolve this spinney theoretical inquiry I chose to focus on a case study about theOrthodox Church’s traditional values that represent the keystone of what the Churchpreaches, with a strong focus on collective interests to the detriment of individual rights,intolerance of religious minorities.

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This present paper is a systematic approach to the anti-Ecumenist feedback received by various theological figures in Greece, regarding the convocation of the Holy and Great Council of Crete that took place in 2016.

The thesis is especially focused on the Egyptian monasticism during its supremely period in the 4th a 5th century. As it appears from the title of the thesis it deals about the its beginnings of the monastic movement in Egypt, the end point represents the personality Shenoute the Great that stands at the intersection of the Orthodoxy and Coptic Christianity, meanwhile, in the Coptic Orthodox Church he is the most venerated saint, outside its his names is connected with the authoritarianism. In the thesis the attention is focused to predecessors of the monastic ideal in Egypt, both in within the Ancient Greek philosophy, in Judaism and in the Christian tradition, specifically in the Alexandrian school. In the addition, the thesis deals about early Christian monastic literature, famous monastic centres this period in Egypt and female monastic communities, about which do not exist much information. Main part of the thesis is the chapter about individual monastic leaders, concretely about saints Paul of Thebes, Anthony the Great, Amoun, Pachomius, Macarius of Egypt and Mary of Egypt and about Shenoute the Great, who is revered as saint in Coptic Orthodox Church only. In the various subheads is treatise about each of saints, there are mentioned their disciples, if they had some. I am aware of the...

Christian monasticism originated in Egypt and then spread to the rest of the Christian church. Coptic monks made a significant contribution to Christian theology and spirituality through their distinctive approach to the life of faith. This study by a Coptic monk analysis Coptic missionary spirituality as it flowered in the fourth and fifth centuries. Chapter 2 introduces the three main types of Coptic monasticism and the key figures in each of the three types. Chapter 3 describes the centripetal dimension of their mission, indicating how they attracted a wide.variety of people to a committed Christian life through their holiness, simplicity and humility. Chapter 4 discusses their "outreaching" mission of love: their preaching in harmony with the culture of people, their concern for the poor and oppressed, their healing miracles and exorcisms, their defense of the Orthodox faith against heresy. Chapter 5 summaries the findings of the study and identifies priorities for further research. / Department of Christian Spiritual Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

There is a consistent thread throughout Russian history of governmental management of culture. Tsars and Communist bureaucrats alike have sought to variously promote, censor, or exploit writers, filmmakers, and musicians to control and define the country's cultural content. Often, these measures were intended not necessarily to cultivate Russia's aesthetic spirit, but to accomplish specific policy goals. The promotion of a State ideology and other efforts to stave of social unrest were chief among them. With the fall of Soviet power and the loss of an official ideology promoted by the state, the concept of cultural politics fell to the wayside. It has remained largely ignored ever since. Despite numerous high-profile incidents of persecution of the creative class, analysts have not linked them together as part of an overarching cultural policy. However, the Russian government under Vladimir Putin has faced consistent policy challenges since the beginning of the 2000s that could be mitigated through the implementation of such a policy. In some ways, the breadth and character of State involvement in the cultural sphere follows the pattern of the country’s autocratic past. In others, it demonstrates that it has adapted these policies to function in the hybrid regime that Putin has created, as opposed to the totalitarian ones that preceded it. A recent case that exemplifies this new breed of cultural policy is the persecution of the radical feminist punk band Pussy Riot. While largely unknown to many Russian citizens, the group’s overt opposition to the patriarchal model of rule established by Putin with the help of the Russian Orthodox Church was met by the most comprehensive crackdown within the cultural sphere since perestroika. Examining this case in detail can reveal the extent to which the Russian government is concerned about its ability to maintain popular legitimacy. The fact that it has continued to try to manage the cultural sphere may indicate the level of democracy that has or has not been established in Russia so far today. / text

Cette thèse est une contribution à l'histoire institutionnelle de l'Eglise orthodoxe russe de 1917 à 1931. Elle s'attache aux conséquences pour l'Église russe de la Révolution de 1917, de la chute de la monarchie et de l'arrivée au pouvoir des Bolcheviks. L'importance du Concile Local de 1917-1918, qui a rétabli les tonnes canoniques et administratives de l'Église russe, est mise en lumière : le système synodal gouverné par un ober-procureur fut aboli et le patriarche Tikhon fut élu. Le Concile Local de 1917-1918 et le Patriarche Tikhon réagirent aux changements politiques dans le pays, en particulier après la Révolution d'Octobre entraînant des persécutions contre l'Église, l'arrestation du Patriarche Tikhon, et affectant la politique de l'Église russe après 1923. L'émigration ecclésiale, partie de Crimée, dans un premier temps vers la Turquie, fut à la source de l'organisation des tonnes administratives de l'Église russe à l'étranger en Serbie, notamment à travers le Concile de toute l'émigration ecclésiale de 1921 à Karlovci. L'émigration ecclésiale dut définir ses relations avec le Patriarcat de Moscou. Les hiérarques à l'étranger ne pensèrent d'abord à aucune rupture avec Moscou, mais la situation changea après le décès du Patriarche Tikhon en 1925. C'était une période de division à l'intérieur de l'Église russe à l'étranger mais aussi un temps où les relations normales avec Moscou devinrent impossibles. Le "Locum Tenens". Le Métropolite Pierre, était arrêté par les Bolcheviks et le Métropolite Serge, son remplaçant, était contraint de faire des concessions considérables en faveur du pouvoir soviétique. L'exigence du Métropolite Serge au clergé russe à l'étranger de donner un engagement de loyauté envers le pouvoir soviétique et sa Déclaration de 1927 provoquèrent des réactions négatives à l'étranger. Le Synode des évêques à l'étranger, présidé par le Métropolite Antoine, rompit ses relations avec Moscou en 1927 et le clergé du Métropolite Euloge intégra le Patriarcat de Constantinople en 1931. Les conséquences furent douloureuses pour 1e Patriarcat de Moscou car cette institution perdit toutes ses paroisses principales en Europe Occidentale. / This thesis is a contribution to the institutional history of the Russian Orthodox Church from 1917 to 1931. It emphasizes how the Russian Church was affected by the Revolution of 1917, the fall of monarchy, and the rise to power of the Bolsheviks. The importance of the 1917-1918 Local Council, which has restored the canonical and administrative forms of the Russian Church, is underlined: the synodal system governed by an ober-prokuror was abolished and Patriarch Tikhon was elected. The 1917-1918 Local Council and Patriarch Tikhon reacted to political changes in the country, particularly after the October Revolution, causing persecutions against the Church, the arrest of Patriarch Tikhon, and affecting the policy of the Russian Church after 1923. The ecclesial emigration that had left Russia from Crimea, first to Turkey, instigated the organization of administrative forms of the Russian Church Abroad in Serbia, through the 1921 Council of ail ecclesial emigration in Karlovci. The ecclesial emigration had to define its relationships with the Moscow Patriarchate, The hierarchs abroad did not consider any break with Moscow at first, but the situation changed after the death of Patriarch Tikhon in 1925. It was a time of division within the Russian Church Abroad but also a time when normal relations with Moscow became impossible. The Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Peter, had been arrested by the Bolsheviks and Metropolitan Sergius, who replaced him, was forced to make significant concessions to the Soviet power. Metropolitan Sergius's demand to the Russian clergy abroad to give a commitment of loyalty to the Soviet regime in 1927 and its Declaration in 1927 provoked negative reactions abroad. The Synod of Bishops Abroad chaired by Metropolitan Anthony broke with Moscow in 1927, and the clergy of Metropolitan Eulogius joined the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1931. The consequences were painful for the Moscow Patriarchate since this institution has lost all major parishes in Western Europe.