Moscow as the “Third Rome” / “New Jerusalem” Concept

The idea of Moscow as the “Third Rome” or “New Jerusalem” emerged in 16th‑century Russia, notably under Ivan III, who married Sophia Palaiologina, niece of the last Byzantine emperor. It was expressed through Byzantine‑style churches, ceremonies, and rhetoric linking Moscow to Rome’s legacy. However, it remained a symbolic, ideological notion—not an official designation—and was not widely accepted outside certain circles.