The lecture goes through the Russian history and close relationship between the rulers and the Russian Orthodox Church. There has always been a close relationship between the church and the state: a symphony – Church and state speak with one voice. To some extent, this was the case even during the Soviet era, especially after World War II. It is crucial to understand this background in order to understand the present situation in Russia and the war between Russia and Ukraine. However, the main focus of the lecture is on the recent developments in Russia and in the Russian Orthodox Churc

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PRESENTER:
Name: Kimmo Kääriäinen
Nationality: Finnish

University degrees:

• Doctor of Theology, University of Helsinki, 1989
• Master of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, 1991

Adjunct Professor:

• Ethics and philosophy of religion, University of Helsinki, 1993

Career after the doctorate:

• Researcher, Academy of Finland 1990-1996
• Director of the joint research-project between the Academy of
  Finland and the Russian Academy of Sciences, Religion and Values
  in Russia, 1995-2002
• Researcher, University of Helsinki 1996-1997
• Senior Researcher, Research Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran
  Church of Finland 1997-2001
• Director, Research Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
  Finland 2001-2010
• Executive Director, Department for International Relations, National
  Church Council 2011–

Research-work abroad:

• Since 1984 numerous times in the Soviet Union/Russia, altogether
  two years
• 1991-1992 in Germany, in Bundesinstitut für ostwissenschaftliche
  und internationale Studien;
• 1994-1995 in Germany, in Bundesinstitut für ostwissenschaftliche
  und internationale Studien
• March-April 2003, Western Michigan University, visiting Professor

Membership in scientific organizations:

• Finnish Association for Russian and East-European Studies, member
  of the executive board 1991-2003, president of the executive board 1998-2003.
• Aleksanteri-Institute (Finnish Centre for Russian, Eurasian and
  Eastern European Studies), member of the executive board 2005–

Membership in church related organizations:

• FinnChurchAid, member of the executive board 2011-2017
• The Church Resources Agency (in Finnish Kirkkopalvelut), member of the executive board 2019– 
• The Finnish Seamen’s Mission, member of the executive board 2022–