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The purpose of this study is to present the perceptions of Poles from Lviv regarding the aid involvement of Christian churches during Russia's war against Ukraine. Christian churches appear privileged and effective sites of aid delivery in the narratives of respondents. However, this does not mean that they have a monopoly on aid activities. The foundation that underpins these activities is particularly evident in the categories highlighted in this article: the role of clergy in local communities (leaders), personal knowledge of society, church infrastructure, and the churches' experience gained during the USSR's persecution of religion. The assistance identified by respondents boils down to material and emotional support, experiencing religious practices, and involvement in direct activity on the war front. The research was based on individual in-depth interviews (IDIs), conducted in December 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of Russia's confrontation with the West, especially after the beginning of the war against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, one can be surprised by the extent of support that President Putin enjoys in the Russian society. The author hypothesizes that this phenomenon cannot be explained with the help of political factors only. The article aims to demonstrate the ideological significance of Russian Orthodox tradition in the process of forming and reaffirming the Russian concept of state authority. After outlining the main issues related to the ideological legitimization of authority in Russia, two religiously rooted concepts are discussed: the "Third Rome" and "God-bearing." These concepts also explain why the Russian Orthodox Church has almost unequivocally supported Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]