Speaking as someone who is Orthodox, I partly share your concern. The Russian Church has indeed got a little too cozy with the current regime. But the idea of Putin being crowned Tsar is bonkers. Politically the Russian Orthodox Church is very sympathetic to monarchism. But the bishops are overwhelmingly royal legitimists. Most of them, including Pat. Kyril, have made it clear that they recognize the Grand Duchess Maria as the heir to the throne if the monarchy were ever restored. Most political experts believe there is little likelihood of a monarchical restoration while Putin lives (let’s be honest he has basically become President for life). Putin doesn’t want any large institution in Russia that he can’t control. The Church being the sole exception, where there is a sort of entante cordial between them. A restored monarchy, even on a purely ceremonial basis, would not fit that pattern. I suppose it is possible he might support such a move if he were near the end of his life, in the same way Francisco Franco restored Spain’s monarchy. But while he is in good health and with a firm grip on the levers of power, I can’t see him creating a potential political rival or entity that with its vast prestige could challenge his authoritarianism. And the Church will never put a crown on his head. It would shatter the unity of the Russian Church and I doubt there is a single bishop who would support the move.
“The church received quite a bit of cash from the Russian treasury.”
True. The Russian Orthodox are very Russian and not very Orthodox. They reject the Pope in Rome with a fury and want their own country and their own church like Brigham Young, etc.
Nice to see a large crowed. I hope there were chairs for the church goers. St. George, pray for us.
Totally valid concern, but the government in Russia now is a direct inheritor of the Bolshevik terrorist rule installed by Lenin not the tsars. There has never been a formal break with the 1917 establishment, even following the Soviet Union's demise in '91. So Putin is more of a Stalin-lite than candidate for tsar.
Not literally. I can't see anybody putting a crown on Putin's head. But he's definitely using Russian nationalism and the Orthodox revival to increase and secure his power.