The Russian Orthodox Church has for centuries been part of the state complex and performs an "ideological function under the monarchy"; Patriarch Cyril serves the state, and "the state generously pays him for it".

This opinion was expressed in an interview with the "Observer" by the Russian and American historian, art and culture theorist, philosopher, film critic, philologist, professor of New York University Mikhail Yampolsky.

He recalled the church reform of Peter I of the early XVIII century, which actually "destroyed the patriarch," and the church de facto began to obey the state.

"Since then, the church performs an ideological function under the monarchy. Not accidentally Uvarov (Earl, n state statesman of the XIX century, Sergei Uvarov. - Red. ) Came up with this trinity: "autocracy, Orthodoxy and nationality," that is, Orthodoxy was part of the state complex, "added Yampolsky.

"Russian Orthodoxy is the Orthodoxy of the Byzantine model, which was completely subordinated to the emperor and served imperial interests," he stated..

"Patriarch Cyril really serves the state, and the state generously pays him for this service," Yampolsky assured..

In his opinion, today's Russian Orthodoxy "needs to be built into the state system of power".

The first part of the interview with Mikhail Yampolsky read here.

As the "Observer" wrote, earlier, Mikhail Yampolsky said: the aggression against Ukraine drove Russia to a standstill; Henceforth everything that seems to be the victories of the Kremlin is in fact a desperate attempt to get out of this impasse.

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