The Russian World

Television in Russia serves to 'close ranks', to feel like a member of the military parade in front of the Kremlin, which is broadcast on every solemn occasion, including New Year's Eve in various formats, especially in these times of war.

For the first time, Ukraine is set to celebrate the Nativity of Christ in a unified way on 25 December, a symbolic event for its new identity. But the country’s real challenge is to take control of the game away from Putin, truly showing the world the face of a new people, beyond any rationale of war.

December 12 celebrated the 30th anniversary of the post-Soviet Constitution, approved by Yeltsin. Charter traced by Putin back to Stalinist totalitarianism, though without imposing a new one in his name. Even in the major revision of 2020 (over 200 amendments) the charade of "democratic Russia" remains. With the March 17 vote, the president intends to usher in "year zero of the new era."

Many people merge and mix with the figure of the president in economic, military, religious, and social affairs, but also for ideological and cultural reasons.

Convened in Moscow in the two symbolic places par excellence - the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Kremlin's Congress Hall - the "Sobor" became a celebration of a "multinational people," which in every way opposes the disintegration of the state, and defends its greatness beyond all borders.

Remembered with great passion in Ukraine and deep resentment in Russia, the “Revolution of Dignity” has brought into play not only the geopolitical and economic interests of the Ukrainian people and of the various parts of the "Russian world", but above all their deepest moral and spiritual interests that transcend the ideological.

Doubts are growing in the country as to the real existence of the president, who is given up for dead or replaced so much so as to be nicknamed 'the refrigerator man'. The supreme leader is an almost anonymous and impersonal expression. Kirill embodies the celebratory role, but power is in the hands of the obscure Secretary of the Security Council who speaks of the 'tsar Putin' in the past tense.

Hostility towards the West tickles the aggressive side of the Russian character, and most Russians take the bait of provocation, especially if Jews are involved. But the paradox is that Russia, because of its history and culture, is inextricably linked to the destiny of the Jewish people, as shown by a musical parody on the net.

The dramatic events of the Gaza-Israel conflict are also having repercussions in Russia, where today the People's Unity Day is being celebrated in memory of the victory over the Poles in 1612. On this occasion, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow approached St Seraphim of Sarov, one of the most representative saints of the Russian identity, which today is experiencing a renewed need for self-awareness, the Russian samobynost so often evoked also by Putin.

On 25 October, the supreme leader of "All the Russias" convened two groups to address and solve the problems of the entire world. The first meeting brought together military officials and nuclear weapons specialists. After this, he joined religious leaders, who had patiently waited for him in the most solemn halls of the Kremlin.

Kirill's appeal to all the heads of the Orthodox Churches against the ban on Russian jurisdiction of Orthodoxy in Ukraine sanctioned by the Kiev parliament has gone unanswered. While the sending of Metropolitan Tikhon to Crimea, the most contested front line, many are wondering whether this is yet another punishment or a possible ecclesiastic and political exaltation.

The "piecemeal world war" evoked for years by Pope Francis is indeed turning into an increasingly global confrontation. Russia sees in this, the realisation of its "mission" to challenge the domination of the "collective" West. Solzhenitsyn's words about the troubled relationship between Russians and Jews come to mind.