From St Paul to Russkii Mir: the katechon as political theology in Russian ideology

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of the concept of the katechon from its Pauline origins and patristic interpretations to its contemporary instrumentalization within the ideology of Russkii Mir. Drawing on an interdisciplinary methodology that combines historical-theological analysis, hermeneutics, and discourse analysis, the study traces the semantic evolution of the notion of “restraint” from early Christian thought to modern political theology. It argues that, while the patristic tradition preserves an open understanding of the katechon, contemporary Russian ideological discourse reconfigures it as a concrete politicocivilizational reality. Within this framework, the Russian state and the Russian Orthodox Church are presented as agents of historical “restraint,” legitimizing claims of civilizational mission and geopolitical influence. The article critically evaluates this shift, suggesting that the ideologization of the katechon entails a rupture with its theological origins and risks transforming theology into an instrument of political legitimation.