sobornost

Sobornost is a Russian religious concept that signifies spiritual harmony, unity, and community based on freedom and love. It is specifically interpreted within the Eastern Orthodox Church as a principle of spiritual unity achieved through ecumenical councils. The term originates from the Russian word for "council".1

While the concept of sobornost emphasizes unity and community, the term zemsky sobor refers to historical advisory assemblies in 16th and 17th-century Russia. These assemblies were convened by the tsar and included representatives from various social classes to advise on matters of state. The zemsky sobor concept was later revived by 19th-century Slavophiles as an ideal of union between the tsar and the Russian people.2