What is Divine Diplomacy?
Divine Diplomacy is a free publication that provides timely analytical and in-depth coverage of political and religious events affecting the Orthodox world.
The Russian aggression in Ukraine or monumental shifts in Balkan politics can’t be fully grasped without insight and knowledge of religious actors' interests in the respective regions.
Think About This: Putin’s aggression on Ukraine happened after Ukraine was allowed its independent church, resulting in cutting ties with Patriarch Kirill in Moscow and pulling Ukraine out of the Russian World.
The role of the Orthodox Church in domestic and international politics has dramatically increased in the past two decades, and the ideals of a symphonic relationship between the state and the church have never been abandoned.
Who is this for?
1. This Substack publication makes a great choice for individuals who follow world politics, recognise the importance of religion in politics and would like to learn more about the often well-gated Orthodox world.
2. It is a great resource that supports people working in government and organisations in understanding the geopolitical and security risks of the functioning of the Orthodox church.
3. Divine Diplomacy is also a valuable resource for the scholars' community and students researching Orthodoxy and politics.
Why subscribe?
A weekly main piece delivered straight to your email inbox with a longer analysis of the Orthodox church developments and their impact on domestic and international politics. The focus is on Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Russia, and the Balkans.
Weekly digest: We dive into the clippings of important news from the Orthodox world with (geo)political ramifications. The weekly digest provides unparalleled access to the latest stories you need to watch for with brief English summaries. It cuts through the noise, offering you an understanding of the often highly evolving Orthodox politics.
Substack Notes - React with me in real-time on significant developments in the Orthodox World through Notes and Threads here on Substack.
OrthoArchive - Get access to my previous research and writing on Orthodox politics. See how Ukraine’s and North Macedonia’s autocephaly (church independence) unfolded in real time. Read through my immediate reactions to the Russian aggression on Ukraine in 2022 and the implications on Ukraine’s religious landscape.
Your support holds significant importance for me. It allows me to continue my research and writing on a topic that I am genuinely passionate about. Currently, the Substack is offered completely for free. Any donation (paid subscription) towards it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for considering and supporting my work.
What People Are Saying:
Orthodoxy in Dialogue recommends [Divine Diplomacy] as an important resource for up-to-the-minute news and commentary on church politics in traditionally Orthodox nations.
Giacomo Sanfilippo - Editor (Orthodoxy in Dialogue)
Who am I?
With almost 15 years of experience in providing bespoke research, intelligence and advice on political and security matters affecting Eastern Europe and globally, I am confident that my analytical skills are sufficiently versatile to offer you a 360 angle of the importance of the Orthodox Church as a (geo)political actor.
In 2022, I completed my PhD at the University of Buckingham (UK), where I examined church independence movements in Orthodox-majority countries in South/Eastern Europe. My PhD thesis examined the autocephaly cases in Ukraine, North Macedonia and Montenegro.
Before that, for many years, I worked as a Research Fellow at the Skopje-based think-tank “Analytica”, focusing on security issues affecting the security and stability of North Macedonia and the Western Balkans, where I authored publications on Security Sector Reforms and intelligence governance. I completed a Master's degree at King’s College London's War Studies Department in 2013.
My experience in strategic forecast has been evident on a number of occasions, and I have offered advice and developed realistic scenarios for governments and international organisations, as well as individuals, on events of geopolitical magnitude as well as micro-level developments which have been affecting their interests.
I am a seasoned media commentator and frequently write (freelance) for inter/national media on political and security implications of church-state developments in the Orthodox world and wider geopolitical implications with appearances on BBC, Al-Jazeera, TRT, Ta-Nea, El Confidencial, Nova Makedonija and others.
Written for Public Orthodoxy. Religion in Praxis and Orthodoxy In Dialogue (among others).
