Christ-Loving Warriors: Ecclesiastical Dimension of the Russian Military Campaign in Syria. Issue 6 (1st November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adamsky, Dmitry (Dima)
• Is Part Of: Problems of post-communism. Volume 67:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 433
• Page End: 445
• Publication Date: 2020-11-01
• Subjects: Post-communism -- Periodicals; Post-communism; Periodicals; 330.91717
• DOI: 10.1080/10758216.2019.1684827
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-8216

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article explores the ecclesiastical dimension of the Russian operation in Syria. It analyzes pastoral activities within the expeditionary force, and argues that the Orthodox Church provided the military with three deliverables. First, the clergy assisted the commanders in providing a sense of mission to the servicemen and injecting higher levels of motivation among them. Second, the military saw the clergy as enhancing unit cohesion and decreasing post-combat stress effects. Finally, the ROC assisted the Kremlin in legitimizing the intervention domestically. The article concludes with prospective trends of the nexus of religion and policy in the Middle East and beyond.