Connecting Links between Orthodox Christianity and Diplomacy: Interchurch Rivalries and Political Interdependencies

Orthodox Christianity has faced numerous challenges over the years, sometimes sharpening the situation and sometimes being forced by political factors. This paper aims to explore the interconnection of politics and religion by analyzing some of the cases that played a determinative role in shaping the current ecclesiastical landscape: the newly formed schism between Moscow and Constantinople, the role of the Russian Patriarchate in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the ongoing efforts of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to maintain the balances within the whole African continent and the efforts of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to preserve its dominance in the Holy Lands.