The universal christian kingdom, or The idea of a universal empire in the church and political ideology of the russian middle ages
https://doi.org/10.48137/23116412_2026_2_114
Abstract
The article discusses the formation of church and political ideology during the Russian Middle Ages, and the influence of the Byzantine heritage on this process in the Russian state.
The emphasis is placed on the differentiation of the concepts of “Byzantine civilization” and “Byzantine Empire”, in which the first concept refers to the socio-cultural sphere, the second – to the political.
Special attention is paid to the problem of borrowing the imperial principle of universalism from Byzantium and its subsequent implementation in the Russian state.
About the Authors
M. V. PaleologRussian Federation
Maxim V. Paleolog, Candidate of History, Associate Professor, Assistant professor at the University
Moscow
O. A. Sukchorukova
Russian Federation
Olga A. Sukchorukova, Candidate of History, Associate Professor, Assistant professor at the University
Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Paleolog M.V., Sukchorukova O.A. The universal christian kingdom, or The idea of a universal empire in the church and political ideology of the russian middle ages. Post–Soviet Continent. 2026;(2):114-131. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.48137/23116412_2026_2_114
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