Sacred Weapons

This chapter explores the role of Orthodox religious materiality that emerged in response to the Russian military invasion in Ukraine, emphasizing the influence of various vernacular responses to the war on its formation and transformation. It employs the paradigm of vernacular religion by examining the interplay between official, folk, and individual responses as equally important in the construction of Orthodox materiality. By discussing how the status of military-oriented artifacts is contested and negotiated, the chapter demonstrates the fluidity and dynamism of vernacular Orthodoxy. The emergence of military churches and icons, as well as the integration of battlefield materials into religious items, is demonstrated to be employed by both Russian and Ukrainian sides. It is suggested that this materiality is used to convey a sense of the immediacy of war in order to raise awareness and gain support among local and global audiences. Overall, the chapter argues that vernacular religious materiality became a significant actor, actively shaping local and international responses toward the Russian war in Ukraine.