Strategies of the Russian Orthodox Church positioning in a modern Russian society: from confessional to cultural ethnical identity

The author researches the Russian Orthodox Church activity at the present time. The author analyzes the Moscow Patriarchate strategy aimed at occupying a special position in Russian society, becoming the center of cultural and ethnic identity of the Russian nation and the bearer and the exponent of the national idea. To achieve its goal, the Russian Orthodox Church uses a variety of mechanisms and tools, such as official ecclesiastical documents («Basic Social Concept of Russian Orthodox Church», «The basic principles of the attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church to the heterodox», «The concept of the missionary work of the Russian Orthodox Church»), direct cooperation with government institutions, as well as organization of prominent major events (seminars, roundtables, forums, festivals). One of the most important policies within the Moscow Patriarchate's positioning strategy in 2000s is the cooperation with the Orthodox and the secular mass-media: printed periodicals, television, radio, Internet. The article also discusses the main goals and functions of Synodal Information Department, established in 2009 under the guidance of Vladimir Legoida.