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Why did the Russian Orthodox Church experience a revival during World War II?

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Jesus Christ: mosaic — Eastern Orthodoxy Jesus Christ, detail of the Deesis mosaic, from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, 12th century.

The Russian Orthodox Church experienced a significant revival during World War II primarily because the Soviet government sought to unify the nation against the German invasion of 1941.1

Facing an existential threat, the Soviet leadership under Joseph Stalin recognized the church’s potential to rally the population. Metropolitan Sergius, the patriarchal administrator, actively supported the war effort by organizing financial drives to outfit tank units and assisting in the establishment of field hospitals and refuges for the homeless.1

This cooperation led to a dramatic shift in state policy. In September 1943, Stalin met with Sergius and other church leaders to normalize church-state relations, which had been severely suppressed since the 1917 Revolution. As a result:21

The church was granted permission to convene a national synod, which formally elected Sergius as patriarch.21
The state-backed "Renovated" or "Living Church" schism was effectively ended, restoring the church's internal unity.21
The church received authorization to open a limited number of religious schools.1
Under Sergius’s successor, Patriarch Alexis, the church saw a massive expansion, with approximately 25,000 churches opened and the number of priests reaching 33,000.2