The notion of the “Russian idea” is a construct that is more than a century old and has taken many forms, frequently both elusive and protean. During Putin's presidency, there have been five versions of this national idea. This paper considers, within a security studies paradigm, the role of the Russian idea in national identity building and foreign policy. Given the dimensions of strategic culture and the conduct of Putin's regime, a close examination reveals that the quest for a “Russian idea” is more important than any particular iteration or popular expression of the idea itself. This quest has, in fact, inspired the Putin government's repressions, aggression, and atrocities. The repressive ways the Putin administration has attempted to embody a messianic idea of Russia have actually resulted in a state that is a menace of just the sort that the Russian idea claims to defend Christian civilization against.