Russian renewal.(Russian Orthodox Eastern Church and state)(Column) From: The Christian Century | Date: April 4, 2001| Author: Bourdeaux, Michael | COPYRIGHT 2001 The Christian Century Foundation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

WHEN HE BECAME president of Russia last year, Vladimir Putin disclosed that "when I was serving in the KGB in Germany, I always wore a cross under my shirt." Whether or not one believes this astonishing claim, there is no doubt that Putin embraces the Russian Orthodox Church as a partner in his blueprint for a strong new Russia. On his first Easter Sunday in office he declared, "The widespread celebration of Easter is visible proof of the rebirth of the spiritual foundations of our...