ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the phenomenon of Russian political Orthodoxy, as an example of contemporary trends towards desecularization, and the return of political theology in Russia. It discusses some aspects of contemporary Orthodox ultra-nationalism and the counter-cultural dimension of Russian political Orthodoxy. The designer of the T-shirt, Igor Miroshnichenko, is a former underground artist and fashion designer who became a Russian Orthodox Christian monarchist. He is second in command in the nationalist organization the Union of Orthodox Christian Gonfalon Bearers, and leader of an art project labelled the Russian Symbol. The chapter analyses court trial in conservative circles, as intensely as the case of Forbidden Art was debated in the liberal press. This time, the subject of controversy is a group of Orthodox activists, who have been criticized and sued by atheist citizens for extremism and incitement to hatred.
