This thesis explores the Putin Administration’s promotion of strong Russian national identity by examining how Russian Orthodoxy shaped political decision-making at home and abroad over the course of the 20th and 21st century. By looking through messaging from both the Russian Orthodox Church as well as the state, the thesis traces the relationship between the two entities to reveal the links between Russian religious and civic identity. The author focuses on Russia’s historical context, the Russian Orthodox Church’s current cultural role, and the Putin Administration’s influence on the global order to cultivate foreign policy discussion through the lens of religion and theological frameworks.