Russian Orthodoxy Resurgent: Faith and Power in the New Russia

(Paperback)

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Russian Orthodoxy Resurgent is the first book to fully explore the expansive and ill-understood role that Russia's ancient Christian faith has played in the fall of Soviet Communism and in the rise of Russian nationalism today. John and Carol Garrard tell the story of how the Orthodox Church's moral weight helped defeat the 1991 coup against Gorbac

Reviews

"At the heart of the book is a masterful biography of Alexy himself... An important and meticulously researched book."--Thomas de Waal, Times Literary Supplement "[The Garrards] focus on Aleksy II's agenda both to reroot Russian Orthodoxy to its claim as the true apostolic succession in Christendom (a challenge to Roman Catholicism's rival claim) and to reidentify it with Russian nationalism. The former claim lies in New Testament texts the Garrards clearly explain, while their discussion of Aleksy II's activities in the latter realm display the authors' supple understanding of Russian patriotism and its religio-military heroes going back to Alexander Nevsky. An important work for students of contemporary Russia."--Gilbert Taylor, Booklist "After the long dark eclipse of the Soviet period, the Russian Orthodox Church is again central to an understanding of contemporary Russia, and this book provides a fine starting point."--Robert Levgold, Foreign Affairs "J. Garrard and C. Garrard provide an important portrait of the Russian Church and its role in the establishment of the 'new' Russia... Based on an abundance of contemporary sources, the Garrards tell a fascinating story."--G.P. Cox, Choice "The Garrards (he a lapsed Anglican, she a practising Lutheran) write evocatively about the history, in elegiac style about the beauty of the architecture, iconography and liturgy, and clear-headedly about nasty aspects such as the church's severe anti-Semitism."--Miriam Cosic, The Australian "Even though the book's style appeals to a popular readership, scholars will want to study the Garrards' work. Their personal contacts with many Russians active in church life have awarded them priceless insights, within the reach of very few Westerners, and many of the important events they witnessed have not been well covered by news outlets."--John D. Basil, Church History "This book combines empathy and detailed scholarship, shedding light on the intricacies of church-state relations in the new Russia."--Iannis Carras, opendemocracy.net "[T]he book is a lively written impressionist report by engaged observers with an abundance of information."--Wil van den Bercken, Journal of Eastern Christian Studies "[T]his is an engaging study of a fascinating subject that is essential to our understanding of the new Russia."--Ruth Coates, European Legacy "The Garrards' monograph is an accessible survey of many aspects of Russian Orthodox history and culture and can serve as a valuable introduction to these topics."--Katja Richters, Journal of Contemporary History

Author Bio

John Garrard is professor of Russian studies at the University of Arizona. Carol Garrard is an independent scholar. Together they are the authors of The Bones of Berdichev: The Life and Fate of Vasily Grossman and Inside the Soviet Writers' Union.