The concept of the god’s chosenness of Russian land during the formation of a united state centred in Moscow: foreign policy aspect

The problem of the relationship between the evolution of the idea of the Russian Land as “the Chosen by God Land” and the most important factors of foreign policy during the formation of a single state with its centre in Moscow is one of the least studied in Russian and foreign historiography. At the same time, this idea, expressed in the formula “Russia is New Israel”, is present in the Russian booklore for a long time and consistently acts as a central element of comprehension of the most significant events in the relations of the Russian people and its neighbors. Formal approval of the idea of “Russia is New Israel” in Russian religious and political literature occurs against the background of the completion of the struggle with the Horde and the formation of a new statehood around Moscow. However, from the actual point of view, it is the idea of God’s chosenness, in our opinion, has always been the most important way to cognize the current events and to develop a response to external challenges.