From the History of State-Church Relations in Imperial Russia

Abstract

The article studies aspects of the relationship between State and Church in Russia during the era of imperial rule. A comprehensive and in-depth study of this problem has theoretical importance for a society that today recognizes itself as secular. In the course of the development of a secular state, the regulation of relations between state and religion, the choosing of the necessary model of state-confessional relations can serve as a guarantee of stability or, conversely, destabilization of society. In this regard, the issue of theoretical generalization of historical experience is particularly relevant. The study and analysis of the materials show that during the reign of Peter I, the nature of the relations between State and Church was changed. The Church, which has retained the signs of autonomy, as a result of the transformations, was deprived of full independence. The next two centuries after Peter’s reforms are known in the history of the Russian Church as the Synodal period.