Orthodoxy, Politics, and Kirillism: Reassessing Post-Soviet Church-State Symphonia in Patriarch Kirill’s Russia

After 1991, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and the Kremlin agreed to reestablish cordial relations while mutually committing not to interfere in each other’s affairs. This model of church-state relations – referred to as symphonia – appears to be outdated under Patriarch Kirill. Drawing on the two priorities articulated by Kirill upon his election in 2009, this paper argues that the ROC has successfully penetrated the political sphere. It therefore proposes replacing the old church-state symphonia with the concept of kirillism, which more accurately captures the church’s growing influence over Russian politics.