Lecture on Orthodoxy in Russia today

1. The Center for Religious Studies
cordially invites you
to a lecture by
Mikhail Dmitriev
(CEU)
Orthodoxy, Orthodox Culture,
Orthodox Structures in Russia Today
Wednesday,
March 27, 2013
5:30 PM
CEU, Nádor utca 11
Hanak Room
Abstract: The role of Orthodoxy in Russia’s public life, Russia’s culture, and Russia’s politics has been increasing
rapidly and steadily over the past 25 years. According to the polls, three quarters of Russia’s population readily
admits that they are “Orthodox”, however, many of them also say that they don’t believe in God. How is one to make
sense of such seemingly contradictory sociological data? As intriguing as this question is, it is not even the most
interesting we will find. All the while, the issue of the Church’s involvement in politics lies on the sidelines. During
this talk, our primary query will be thus: exactly what sort of Orthodoxy is triumphantly returning to Russia’s
culture? This lecture will detail the current “Orthodox renaissance” taking place in public sphere in Russia and
explore the problem of the “new Byzantinism” in regards to the mainstream religious world of present day Russian
culture.
Mikhail V. Dmitriev is a professor of medieval and early modern history at the Moscow Lomonossov State
University and a recurrent visiting professor at CEU (since 2002). Dmitriev has taught regularly for Vienna
University (1992), University of Alberta, Canada (1993, 1995, 1996-1997, 1999-2000), University Paris I Panthéon-
Sorbonne (1994, 1997-1999), and University Montpellier III (2004-2005). His work focuses on the role of
Byzantine-Orthodox traditions in Russian, Ukrainian, and Belorussian cultures. His publications include Between
Rome and Constantinople. Genesis of the Church Union of Brest (1595-1596). Moscow: Lomonossov UP, 2003 (in
Russian); Dissidents russes. I. Feodosij Kosoj. II. Matvej Baskin. Le starec Artemij. Baden-Baden: V. Koerner-Verlag,
1998-1999; and Orthodoxy and Reformation. Movements of Religious Reforms in the East Slavic Lands of the Polish-
Lithuanian Commonwealth in the second half of the XVIth century. Moscow: Lomonossov UP, 1990 (in Russian). He
has edited and co-edited a number of collected works.
For more information, contact the Center for Religious Studies at religion@ceu.hu