from Sergej Sumlenny,
Few know that the Russian Orthodox Church was founded in 1943 by Joseph Stalin as a state-run intelligence & propaganda agency. It has nothing to do with Christianity in general or the Orthodoxy in particular.
On the photo: patriarch Sergii, the first head of the NKVD church.
@EvilBunny
In the later era of ancient Rome the emperor needed local, respected leaders to provide local governance. The christian bishops were a convenient role to leverage, which he did.