SUMMARY:

The article advances the analysis of the mechanisms of self-representation of the Russian Orthodox mission in present-day Mongolia. In particular, it scrutinizes the character of its cultural expansion; its geo-political (Western versus Eurasian), spiritual (religious traditionalism versus new confessions), state-oriented and national (“old” or “local Russians” versus new Russians) rhetoric; and attempts to locate their genealogies in the Soviet past and the post-Soviet transition period. The author draws on the recent history of the Russian Orthodox church in Mongolia; on the materials of three internet resources such as Orthodoxy.ru (http://www.pravoslavie.ru), Patriarchy.ru (http://www.patriarchia.ru), and Orthodoxy on the East (http://www.pravostok.ru); and on content-analysis of Russian-language periodicals published in contemporary Mongolia.