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Holy Russia? Holy War?: Why the Russian Church is Backing Putin Against Ukraine
'An original, and in some areas unexpected, way of shedding light on this critical subject.'Edward Stourton, journalist and presenter of BBC Radio 4's The World at One
Why is the Russian Church supporting Putin in his war against Ukraine?
Why does the Patriarch of Moscow believe that history is on Russia's side?
And what are the implications for Christianity and Christian culture in the West?
These are among the vital questions addressed in Holy Russia? Holy War? Written by Katherine Kelaidis, an internationally respected historian who is also an Orthodox believer, this timely book examines the way history and religion are being used to justify Putin's 'special military operation' in Ukraine.
Kelaidis shows how Russia's understanding of its past continues to shape and direct the way it sees its future. This, she argues, is not only a problem for Ukraine, but also a problem for all who value freedom, democracy, tolerance, and the defence of human rights.
Reading Holy Russia? Holy War? will enhance your knowledge of why the defence of Ukraine is also the defence of Western freedom and values. It will also help you to see how differing views of the past can radically affect what happens in the present, how religion can so easily become corrupted at the service of militant nationalism, and how we must guard against it, wherever it appears.
Contents
PART Shadows of the past
PART Who is Patriarch Kirill and why is he dangerous?
PART This is not just a problem for Ukraine
PART The war will end but the causes and consequences will remain, so what can be done?
Two modern Russian saints
Why is the Russian Church supporting Putin in his war against Ukraine?
Why does the Patriarch of Moscow believe that history is on Russia's side?
And what are the implications for Christianity and Christian culture in the West?
These are among the vital questions addressed in Holy Russia? Holy War? Written by Katherine Kelaidis, an internationally respected historian who is also an Orthodox believer, this timely book examines the way history and religion are being used to justify Putin's 'special military operation' in Ukraine.
Kelaidis shows how Russia's understanding of its past continues to shape and direct the way it sees its future. This, she argues, is not only a problem for Ukraine, but also a problem for all who value freedom, democracy, tolerance, and the defence of human rights.
Reading Holy Russia? Holy War? will enhance your knowledge of why the defence of Ukraine is also the defence of Western freedom and values. It will also help you to see how differing views of the past can radically affect what happens in the present, how religion can so easily become corrupted at the service of militant nationalism, and how we must guard against it, wherever it appears.
Contents
PART Shadows of the past
PART Who is Patriarch Kirill and why is he dangerous?
PART This is not just a problem for Ukraine
PART The war will end but the causes and consequences will remain, so what can be done?
Two modern Russian saints
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 18, 2023
3 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 16, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up.
The first third of the book was good. It was a very brief history of how the Orthodox churches came to be. It is in many ways a mix of Church history with that of Byzantine and other Eastern European nations.
The remainder of the book reads like a series of blog posts relating to the Russian/Ukrainian conflict from a religious perspective. The author has a very serious pro Greek Orthodox anti-Russian Orthodox and this slant comes through with every blog post turned book chapter. There is some interest since the conflict is still new and ongoing, but even the little (and incredibly niche) interest these articles might have will almost certainly be incredibly dated as (God willing) this war becomes something we see only through the rear view mirror.
The first third of the book was good. It was a very brief history of how the Orthodox churches came to be. It is in many ways a mix of Church history with that of Byzantine and other Eastern European nations.
The remainder of the book reads like a series of blog posts relating to the Russian/Ukrainian conflict from a religious perspective. The author has a very serious pro Greek Orthodox anti-Russian Orthodox and this slant comes through with every blog post turned book chapter. There is some interest since the conflict is still new and ongoing, but even the little (and incredibly niche) interest these articles might have will almost certainly be incredibly dated as (God willing) this war becomes something we see only through the rear view mirror.
December 29, 2025
In Holy Russia? Holy War, Katherine Kelaidis raises a significant issue that most in the west do not understand about the war between Russia and Ukraine. Instead of the conflict being mostly about power, the conflict is also about religion. Most western secular media do not cover this important source that is fueling the conflict between these two nations. Katherine Kelaidis has made a valuable contribution to the understanding of the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
The first two sections of the book provides a helpful background about Orthodoxy, Russia, and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church. Most in America do not understand the role of Orthodoxy and the Orthodox Church. The reference to specific speeches and dates were very helpful and will provide a good guide for someone trying to understand the current conflict and the role of religion. Her presentations in these chapters are quite convincing - religion provides an important role to this conflict.
The last two sections read more like blog posts than anything else. The author presented a number of connections that most would not consider. These include things such as the relationships that Russia has in a number of other places in the world, the role of Antisemitism in the conflict, the role of Palestinian Orthodox Christians, the Korean peninsula, and the role of American Evangelicals.
The breadth of ideas were helpful. The documentation in these chapters, however, was insufficient for the number of opinions that the author gives. Most of these chapters ended with the author stating definite positions without documentation for an average reader to follow. Some of her conclusions may be really insightful, but it is difficult for the targeted reader to know. Taking definitive stands on the Balkans, Korea, Cyprus is too much for many of the likely readers. This is not helped by making assertions that are dubious. Blaming Evangelicals in the Republicans for the coziness that Americans displayed to Putin seems as if the author was choosing a scapegoat (p. 115-17). Throughout the book the argument was the lack of understanding of a western audience to matters in Russia. That seems to be a far better culprit for any closeness with Putin the past.
Despite the latter part of this book, it succeeds in its ultimate purpose. The Russia Ukraine conflict has a religious component to it that is frequently underestimated. This viewpoint is in danger of drawing more than Russia and Ukraine into open conflict. It is worth considering this viewpoint as one evaluates this ongoing conflict.
The first two sections of the book provides a helpful background about Orthodoxy, Russia, and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church. Most in America do not understand the role of Orthodoxy and the Orthodox Church. The reference to specific speeches and dates were very helpful and will provide a good guide for someone trying to understand the current conflict and the role of religion. Her presentations in these chapters are quite convincing - religion provides an important role to this conflict.
The last two sections read more like blog posts than anything else. The author presented a number of connections that most would not consider. These include things such as the relationships that Russia has in a number of other places in the world, the role of Antisemitism in the conflict, the role of Palestinian Orthodox Christians, the Korean peninsula, and the role of American Evangelicals.
The breadth of ideas were helpful. The documentation in these chapters, however, was insufficient for the number of opinions that the author gives. Most of these chapters ended with the author stating definite positions without documentation for an average reader to follow. Some of her conclusions may be really insightful, but it is difficult for the targeted reader to know. Taking definitive stands on the Balkans, Korea, Cyprus is too much for many of the likely readers. This is not helped by making assertions that are dubious. Blaming Evangelicals in the Republicans for the coziness that Americans displayed to Putin seems as if the author was choosing a scapegoat (p. 115-17). Throughout the book the argument was the lack of understanding of a western audience to matters in Russia. That seems to be a far better culprit for any closeness with Putin the past.
Despite the latter part of this book, it succeeds in its ultimate purpose. The Russia Ukraine conflict has a religious component to it that is frequently underestimated. This viewpoint is in danger of drawing more than Russia and Ukraine into open conflict. It is worth considering this viewpoint as one evaluates this ongoing conflict.
January 7, 2024
Quando parlo sul mio blog di queste tematiche, e consiglio bibliografia cui rifarsi, la primissima domanda che mi viene posta unimamente da tutti i miei lettori è "è un testo affidabile? Imparziale? Oppure è politicamente schierato al punto tale da essere di parte?". Ecco: per quanto questo libro, nel complesso, mi sia piaciuto (e per quanto io mi senta di condividere nel complesso molte delle tesi espresse dall'autrice), non sono così convinta che, nel consigliarlo, potrei rispondere dì sì alle domande di cui sopra. In effetti, non è imparziale: è così smaccatamente e politicamente schierato da tirarsi un po' la zappa sui piedi, perché in effetti basta scorrere l'indice per farsi venire il dubbio che l'autrice stia facendo cherry-picking per tirare acqua al suo mulino.
Intendiamoci, io non credo che lo faccia (cioè, dice cose vere, in base alle mie conoscenze), ma titoli tipo "What'so so scary about the inclusion of God in the Russian constitution?" o "Holy Father, you're not helping" non aiutano tantissimo a dare al saggio quell'aria di imparzialità che, secondo me, gli sarebbe utile per non sembrare solo un libro a tesi.
Molto interessante (e sicuramente un punto forza) il fatto di dedicare un'intera sezione al modo in cui gli intrecci tra politica e religione in Russia stanno, o potrebbero influenzare, anche altre aree del mondo ben più lontane dell'Ucraina (USA, Corea, Macedonia tra le molte), un aspetto che non frequentemente ho visto citato in altri libri sul tema.
Un po' limitante la decisione dell'autrice di scrivere parti del suo libro quasi come se si trattasse di un commentario giorno per giorno alla guerra Russia-Ucraina. Non so quale sia la genesi del volume ma a tratti m'è sembrato di essere dei blogpost di geopolitica del primo semestre 2022 che venivano aggiornati di giorno in giorno in base alle notizie di cronache. Non è necessariamente un male, intendiamoci, in fin dei conti stiamo parlando di un instant book. Però non credo che lo troveremo ancora sugli scaffali delle librerie tra una ventina d'anni, insomma.
(Una copia omaggio di questo libro mi è stata fornita dalla casa editrice via NetGallery in cambio di una onesta recensione).
Intendiamoci, io non credo che lo faccia (cioè, dice cose vere, in base alle mie conoscenze), ma titoli tipo "What'so so scary about the inclusion of God in the Russian constitution?" o "Holy Father, you're not helping" non aiutano tantissimo a dare al saggio quell'aria di imparzialità che, secondo me, gli sarebbe utile per non sembrare solo un libro a tesi.
Molto interessante (e sicuramente un punto forza) il fatto di dedicare un'intera sezione al modo in cui gli intrecci tra politica e religione in Russia stanno, o potrebbero influenzare, anche altre aree del mondo ben più lontane dell'Ucraina (USA, Corea, Macedonia tra le molte), un aspetto che non frequentemente ho visto citato in altri libri sul tema.
Un po' limitante la decisione dell'autrice di scrivere parti del suo libro quasi come se si trattasse di un commentario giorno per giorno alla guerra Russia-Ucraina. Non so quale sia la genesi del volume ma a tratti m'è sembrato di essere dei blogpost di geopolitica del primo semestre 2022 che venivano aggiornati di giorno in giorno in base alle notizie di cronache. Non è necessariamente un male, intendiamoci, in fin dei conti stiamo parlando di un instant book. Però non credo che lo troveremo ancora sugli scaffali delle librerie tra una ventina d'anni, insomma.
(Una copia omaggio di questo libro mi è stata fornita dalla casa editrice via NetGallery in cambio di una onesta recensione).
October 16, 2024
Good History Lesson
I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about the history of the Eastern church. I don’t know if I agreed with all the things that were written but I liked the passion of Katherine has for her faith. As a Western Catholic I share her passion for my faith and I don’t believe we are that far apart in our beliefs.
I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about the history of the Eastern church. I don’t know if I agreed with all the things that were written but I liked the passion of Katherine has for her faith. As a Western Catholic I share her passion for my faith and I don’t believe we are that far apart in our beliefs.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews