Holy Rus'
Subtitle: the rebirth of Orthodoxy in the New Russia
By: John P. Burgess
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 264
ISBN-13: 9780300222241
Subjects: Christianity and culture; Influence; Russkai︠a︡ pravoslavnai︠a︡ t︠s︡erkov'; Russkai︠a︡ pravoslavnai︠a︡ t︠s︡erkovʹ; Church renewal; Russian National characteristics; Nationalism; History
Other titles: Rebirth of Orthodoxy in the New Russia
Description: A fascinating, vivid, and on-the-ground account of Russian Orthodoxy's resurgence. A bold experiment is taking place in Russia. After a century of being scarred by militant, atheistic communism, the Orthodox Church has become Russia's largest and most significant nongovernmental organization. As it has returned to life, it has pursued a vision of reclaiming Holy Rus': that historical yet mythical homeland of the eastern Slavic peoples; a foretaste of the perfect justice, peace, harmony, and beauty for which religious believers long; and the glimpse of heaven on earth that persuaded Prince Vladimir to accept Orthodox baptism in Crimea in A.D. 988. Through groundbreaking initiatives in religious education, social ministry, historical commemoration, and parish life, the Orthodox Church is seeking to shape a new, post-communist national identity for Russia. In this eye-opening and evocative book, John Burgess examines Russian Orthodoxy's resurgence from a grassroots level, providing Western readers with an enlightening, inside look at the new Russia.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.