'Freedom of Conscience', Russian Orthodox style
Speaking to the State Duma Committee on Development of Civil Society, Issues of Public Associations and Religious Organisations, Abbess Xenia, head of the Moscow Patriarchate's legal department, said that the most fervent senior officers and generals who adhere to traditional religions should be promoted to command positions in the military. She also called for an explicit ban on “atheism”, deemed “unworthy and immoral”, diametrically reversing the principles of Soviet censorship against religion.
Moscow (AsiaNews) – A few days ago, the State Duma Committee on Development of Civil Society, Issues of Public Associations and Religious Organisations met in Moscow to discuss "Development of Civil Society for 2026-2030: Challenges, Resources, Opportunities," chaired by MP Yana Lantratova.
The discussion's format raised concerns among some in attendance, who felt that members of the Moscow Patriarchate were increasingly censoring various aspects of Russian society.
The meeting was attended by several Members of the State Duma, representatives of religious associations, scholars, psychologists, members of extra-parliamentary movements, regional human rights defenders, Civic Chamber members, and more than 70 lawmakers from the federal regions.
Among the topics discussed, the most important included sessions on freedom of conscience and religious associations, countering destructive ideologies among young people, and strengthening traditional moral and spiritual values.
Abbess (Igumena) Xenia (Chernega) led the Orthodox delegation. As head of the Moscow Patriarchate's legal administration, she occupied the central seat in the front row, as did her predecessors in the Soviet era, to emphasise the superiority of Russia's "traditional religion" par excellence.
Her concerns were primarily focused on the religious development of the Armed Forces, in particular, on the need to promote to command positions senior officers and generals who are fervent in their adherence to traditional religions, capable of supporting ecclesiastical interests within the military.
The discussion made it clear that "freedom of conscience" does not mean freedom of thought, but rather as freedom of religion in the strictest sense, entrusting its protection to religious associations, especially to the Moscow Patriarchate, with which the military leadership must maintain an increasingly close relationship.
The relationship between the Church and the military, moreover, is one of the most sensitive issues for the Orthodox, and religious freedom in this area “is not understood as satisfying the religious needs of soldiers, but above all as a commitment to providing them with specific moral, spiritual, and patriotic training,” as one of those present, Sergei Ivaneev, chairman of the association "Citizens of the 21st Century for Secularism and Humanism," noted.
Chernega then sought to speak beyond the accepted rules to illustrate her idea of “improving legislation on freedom of conscience,” increasing the representation of members of the main religious institutions in the relevant bodies to "improve legislative proposals," which, according to Ivaneev, is nothing other than "an expression of ecclesiastical censorship."
The abbess and the Patriarchate’s leading legal expert also insisted on the urgent need to clarify the status of chaplains, who should be included in state structures at all levels, not just in the military.
Other representatives of the Orthodox Church reiterated their criticism of the “secularisation of Russian society”, calling for the lifting of the Supreme Court-imposed ban on wearing explicitly religious clothing in state and municipal schools and other public settings.
Furthermore, “atheism” is explicitly excluded from “freedom of conscience”, deemed “unworthy and immoral”, as poor adherence to moral principles is considered a “consequence of a lack of faith in God,” diametrically reversing the principles of Soviet atheist censorship against religion, which was considered at the time a brake on the development of society and civil progress.
The public sale of atheist literature has already been outlawed, and publishing houses and bookstores in general “exercise self-censorship for fear of consequences,” stressed humanist Ivaneev, according to whom, “today it is increasingly difficult for ordinary people to understand not only atheist culture, but also rationalism, a scientific worldview, critical thinking, and freedom of expression.”
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