The Spiritual Roots of the Soviet Empire – The "Fourth Rome"

Rome: The First Rome
Christ entrusted his disciples with a mission: to make disciples of all nations. In a short time, the disciples spread Christ's teachings throughout the Roman Empire, eventually reaching its capital. It was here that two pillar apostles, Peter and Paul, suffered martyrdom.

Constantinople: The Second Rome
Emperor Constantine sought to establish a unified Christian empire, a worthy earthly reflection of the Kingdom of Heaven. A new empire required a new capital. Rome, desecrated by the blood of martyrs and filled with pagan structures, could not fulfill this role. The new capital was built in the East, the region of Christ's origin: Constantinople, the City of Constantine. Soon it was called the New Rome or Second Rome, becoming the imperial center and spiritual heart of the Byzantine Empire.

Due to doctrinal and power disputes, the two centers excommunicated each other in 1054. The Second Rome viewed the First Rome as a deadly enemy, accusing it of straying from Christ and promoting heretical doctrines. As a result, the Second Rome considered itself the sole bearer of the true Christian faith. Orthodoxia ("true glory" or "true faith") became the exclusive privilege of the Orthodox churches. The Byzantines believed that God's kingdom had been realized in their empire and regarded themselves as God's chosen people. The conversion of the Slavic peoples further extended the Second Rome's influence. However, in 1453, Constantinople fell to the Turks, becoming the capital of a Muslim power.

Moscow: The Third Rome
At the fall of Constantinople, all Orthodox nations were under Turkish rule, except for the young Grand Duchy of Moscow. This rising state needed an ideological foundation to justify its power and expansion. It claimed to be the heir of Byzantium. Ivan III married the niece of the last Byzantine emperor, declaring himself and his country the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire. The double-headed eagle became part of the Russian coat of arms, the title "Caesar" (Czar) was adopted, and Moscow was proclaimed the center of Orthodox Christianity—the Third Rome.

The czar's aim was to establish a new Christian empire, the sole inheritor of the true faith by God's grace. The Russian people saw themselves as the chosen nation, tasked with spreading the pure and true faith throughout the world. Russian soil became "Holy Russia," and the czar was obligated to bring those living in darkness under the dominion of his Holy Empire.

Moscow: The Fourth Rome
The Bolshevik revolution of 1917 marked a turning point in world history. The Soviet Empire required a unifying ideology to justify its expansion. Lenin and his comrades created the ideology of Marxism-Leninism, which they treated as an atheist, secular religion with its own dogmas and cults.

Lenin's body was embalmed (as the bodies of saints do not decay), and his writings became sacred texts. The Fourth Rome also assumed messianic duties, considering itself the sole bearer of truth and the global propagator of a liberating ideology. This worldview mirrored the old Orthodox dualism: at the center were those enlightened by Marxist-Leninist philosophy, surrounded by the forces of evil—capitalism.

The Party acted as the clergy of this new faith, interpreting the sacred texts. The final form of dogmas was established at Party Congresses (councils), and deviation was considered heresy. The state religion demanded devoted loyalty from its citizens, organizing processions (parades), displaying images of communist heroes as saints, and replacing icons in public buildings with portraits of Party members.

An indispensable component was a living leader with divine powers. Stalin was elevated to a godlike status, later referred to as the cult of personality. This dominant ideology tolerated no dissent, persecuting its predecessor—the Church—and the faithful. To ensure ideological purity among its citizens, the Soviet Empire built an iron curtain, cutting itself off from the outside world. Internal heresies were rooted out by secret police, and punishment was carried out in re-education labor camps.

For seventy years, Marxism-Leninism served as the cohesive force of the Soviet Empire. However, an irreconcilable tension between theory and reality emerged, leading to the collapse of this philosophy.

Medyesy M. László "Moszkva: a negyedik Róma" Hitel 1990/26.