State-religious relations in crisis situations: The support by Russian religious organizations for a special military operation

Abstract

The article is devoted to the consideration of the specifics of state-religious relations in crisis situations using the example of the reactions of Russian religious organizations, their leadership and representatives, regarding support for a special military operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. The starting point of the article is the thesis about the fundamental support by the largest religious organizations of Russia of the foreign policy course of the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin, including a special military operation. Forms of support include public speaking (reports, interviews, lectures, sermons, communication with parishioners); acceptance by the governing bodies of a religious organization of documents confirming support; providing humanitarian and other assistance to military personnel and members of their families, the population of new constituent entities of the Russian Federation, and refugees; spiritual care for military personnel; participation in social and psychological rehabilitation programs; coordination of the religious life of believers in new constituent entities of the Russian Federation; cooperation with the Russian Ministry of Defense and other government bodies in matters relating to a special military operation. These examples will demonstrate different levels of interaction between the state and religious organizations during a special military operation, revealing the general specifics of the model of state-religious relations in crisis situations in the Russian Federation.