The Russian Orthodox Church is the second-most powerful Christian Church in the world; its potential to influence world affairs is vast. We in the West would ignore this Church at our own peril. There is a very informative and fascinating article in the latest National Geographic about the role of Russian Orthodoxy in post-communist Russia. It is written by Serge Schmemann, the former New York Times bureau chief in Moscow and the son of famous Russian Orthodox priest Alexander Schmemann. In the article Schmemann explores the relationship between the Russian Church and the Russian state. The Church there has a long history of working closely (many would say too closely) with the state, and after the fall of communism many were hoping that it would resist that urge and be more of a challenging force to the state.

Schmemann concludes that the post-communist Church has been a mixed bag: on the one hand, it has collaborated closely with the authoritarian desires of the Russian government, but on the other hand, it is the Church that is performing many valiant works of charity and piety within Russia.

No one can read history and not recognize the ongoing struggle of Christianity since Constantine to remain free from state entanglements. I pray that the Russian Church maintains its autonomy to continue to preach the Gospel and strives to always make this their top priority.