Russian and Ukrainian Orthodoxy in Light of the War in Ukraine

The Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs program on Global and International History presents Dr. Scott Kenworthy, professor of comparative religion, Miami University and “Russian and Ukrainian Orthodoxy in Light of the War in Ukraine.” Dr. Kenworthy’s research interests focus on the history and thought of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, particularly in modern Russia. His most recent book is co-authored with Alexander Agadjanian, Understanding World Christianity: Russia (Fortress Press, 2021).

Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, President Putin gave a speech on television in order to justify the invasion—a speech that was mostly a lesson on the historical relationship between Russia and Ukraine. Since the invasion, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has repeatedly justified the invasion—also often appealing to the historical legacy. This talk will explore the complex and intertwined histories of the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches in order to shed light on the responses from both sides to the current conflict.

In person event in the Robert A. Jones 59’ Conference Room.

Co-sponsored by International and Global Studies and Russian and East European Studies.