Orthodox Church In Russia Poised For More Political Involvement

Yesterday's Georgian Daily says that Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirrill is positioning the Russian Orthodox Church for a greater role in Russian politics. The paper first cites a speech by Kirrill to the Russian Academy of State Service in which he argued that Russia should be judged by its unique values and not by "alien" European criteria-- a position that echos the views of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Second, he has strongly criticized Europeans for surrendering their values to "passionate" Muslims. Finally Kirrill signed a new cooperation agreement with the Russian Academy of State Service, pressing the government to aid religious groups according to their relative size. The agreement opens the way for more priests to receive training at the Academy of State Service.