Yuri Stoyanov
Scholar of religion at SOAS, University of London, and author of research on the Russian Orthodox Church's theology and the concept of holy war; provides expert analysis on religious dynamics in the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
Best podcasts with Yuri Stoyanov
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Feb 24, 2026 • 32min
Holy Smoke: how Russia is waging Holy War in Ukraine
Dr Yuri Stoyanov, SOAS scholar of religion who studies the Russian Orthodox Church, explores how Russian rhetoric has morphed into a crusade-style holy war. He traces the break with Byzantine traditions, the sacralization of annexation and troop mobilization, splits across Orthodox churches, and surprising support from some Islamic and Buddhist leaders.
Feb 21, 2025 • 35min
Holy Smoke: Holy War and Antichrist, the rise of extremist rhetoric inside the Russian Orthodox Church
Yuri Stoyanov, a research fellow at SOAS specializing in Eastern Orthodox studies, and Svitlana Morenets, The Spectator's Ukraine correspondent, delve into the schism within Eastern Orthodoxy sparked by the Ukraine conflict. They discuss how the war has forced Ukrainians to choose between rival church affiliations. Stoyanov highlights Patriarch Kirill's apocalyptic rhetoric, which resonates with soldiers but may not reflect the views of ordinary Russians. They also explore rumors of President Putin's involvement in unusual rituals amid the conflict.
