Vl. Kail’ Maksim

CHURCH DIPLOMACY AND THE VISIT OF PATRIARCH ALEXY (SIMANSKY) TO THE HOLY LAND IN 1945

Authors

Vl. Kail’ Maksim

Keywords:

Church diplomacy, Russian-Palestinian relations, Holy Land, Orthodox East, Soviet geopolitics, Patriarch Alexey (Simansky) external Church relations

Abstract

The article is devoted to the reconstruction of the history of the election to the Patriarchal throne, and then the organization of a visit to the Holy Land for visiting patriarchs of the Orthodox East of the elected Patriarch Alexy (Simansky). The trip reflected the key vector of state-Church interaction adopted in 1943 – the diplomatic one. The Soviet government set the legalized structures of the Moscow Patriarchate the task of expanding their presence and influence on the international agenda and in inter-Church relations. The first step in implementing this agenda was a large-scale visit of the Patriarch to the Orthodox East, organized by the Soviet government. It formed a precedent and practice for further diplomatic actions of the Moscow Patriarchate in the international arena and needs scientific updating and careful study.

CHURCH DIPLOMACY AND THE VISIT OF PATRIARCH ALEXY (SIMANSKY) TO THE HOLY LAND IN 1945