The Russian Orthodox Church is supporting Russia’s war on Ukraine in its sermons, sending priests to the front, and collecting humanitarian aid for soldiers and the occupied Ukrainian territories. It is also involved in the administration of the occupied territories and in promoting propaganda narratives abroad. So why did the head of the Church, Patriarch Kirill, bet on Putin? How influential is the Church in Russian politics and society? What will happen to it after the war and will it survive Putin's regime? ECFR’s new podcast on Russia, “Under the Overcoat”, will explore the deeper trends beneath the surface of daily politics. To dive deeper into the role of the Russian Orthodox Church, our host Kadri Liik is joined by ECFR visiting fellow Ksenia Luchenko and Alexander Agadjanian, a senior research fellow at Yerevan State University. Bookshelf: Daniel Stein, Interpreter: A Novel | Ludmila Ulitskaya La Sainte Russie contre l’Occident Everyday Religiosity and the Politics of Belonging in Ukraine | Catherine Wanner Understanding World Christianity: Russia | Alexander S. Agadjanian (Author), Scott M. Kenworthy

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