January 22 was a historic day in Russia, the day when the thin layer that separates the religious power from the state institution was shattered. Despite the Russian constitution provides the separation between the two powers, the diaphragm is a more and more permeable, leading the country to its roots and to its values as opposed to the West.
The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill, yesterday addressed the members of the State Duma, the Russian parliament, with a 35-minutes speech. It is the first time this happens in the history of modern Russia. It is no coincidence that happen right now, when the country is rebuilding its identity on traditional values, and that relations with the West are at their lowest since the end of the Cold War
Kirill warned the members of the Duma not to be fascinated by western “pseudo values”. “These modern pseudo-values are an offense to the identity and humanity of civilization as a whole. Examples are well-known: the legalization of same-sex unions, the legalization of euthanasia and the introduction of dangerous elements of the justice system into society”.
Kirill took the advantage of the event to express ideas against surrogacy. He said that “women who cannot have children should think of adoption. All our people used to do that; they adopted orphans and brought them up. One cannot take advantage of scientific achievements, joking at the Lord’s plans on man.”
However, beyond the predictable distance with Europe and the West on issues such as LGBT rights and the so-called “right to life”, Patriarch Kirill said something more interesting. “Lawmakers are the gatekeepers to “moral” legislation. The political sphere is secondary. The sphere of values is primary. No Russian political party should destroy these primary values because [if one does], there will be no Russia.”
A reciprocated sympathy
With these words, addressed to Russian lawmakers, Patriarch Kirill has sought to stress the primacy of the moral law above the state law, and the connection between traditional values and the very identity of Russia. Two principles much debated among liberals, and in contrast with the same Russian constitution that states the separation between state and religion (and, therefore, the incomparability of the two systems).
The overlap of religion and politics can lead to unexpected effects. Like when Kirill has called “horrifyingly high” the abortion rate in Russia (one of the highest among the countries of the first world) and suggested the lawmakers to abolish the state provided abortion because “cutting the number of abortions in half would result in sustainable and powerful demographic growth.” The statement was greeted with applause.
Kirill’s sympathy for the Duma is reciprocated. Already in 2013 the parliament had in fact voted by a large majority a law banning “homosexual propaganda among minors” and voted to criminalize “insulting the feelings of religious believers.”
According to many observers, in recent years the political role of the Orthodox Church in Russia has become increasingly strong. The unconditional support of Kirill to Putin’s political choices and, indeed, to his own role as the undisputed leader of the country, have made it a pillar of the Kremlin’s power itself.
No lack of occasions even in relation to recent events to mark the distance with the West, just like the attacks of the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo, and even in relation to Andrei Zvyaginstev’s Leviathan, recently shortlisted for the Academy Oscar. The movie has been accused of pander to western prejudices.
It is very likely that Kirill’s incursion in the rooms of Russian politics won’t be the last.
@daniloeliatweet
January 22 was a historic day in Russia, the day when the thin layer that separates the religious power from the state institution was shattered. Despite the Russian constitution provides the separation between the two powers, the diaphragm is a more and more permeable, leading the country to its roots and to its values as opposed to the West.
