Archives de sciences sociales des religions, n° 206. Marking space : the Russian orthodox politics of self-assertion

This issue, « Marking Space: the Russian Orthodox Politics of Self-Assertion, » delves into the complex interplay between the Russian Orthodox Church and the socio-political landscape in post-Soviet Russia. Despite Orthodoxy becoming the default religion in many parts of Russia after the USSR's collapse, its public presence is still contested in a predominantly secular society. The articles examine the politics of space, focusing on how religious markers such as crosses, frescoes, pilgrimages, buildings, and collective prayers are employed to claim and transform public spaces into political territories and loci of utopia. This process frequently ignites debates about the common good and the appropriate role of religion in public life. Key themes include issues of heritage and memory, particularly the creation of traditions and the sacralization of places within the vision of a utopian « Holy Russia. » The ambivalent relationship between the State and the Church is also explored, characterized by both cooperation and tension as the Church seeks to expand its influence. Through these discussions, this issue provides a nuanced understanding of the Russian Orthodox Church's efforts to shape spaces and identities in contemporary Russia.