Third Rome
The idea of Moscow being the Third Rome was popular since the early Russian Tsars. Its origins are traced to the rule of Ivan III. It had been crystallized in the famous prophecy of the monk Filofei (Philotheus) of Pskov addressed to Vasili III, the successor of Ivan III, in 1510.According to the prophecy, there were to be only three Romes, in other words, centers of rightful religious faith. The first two have already fallen: Rome ("Old Rome") because of heresy and Constantinople ("Second Rome") because of Turks — leaving the only hope on Earth with Moscow ("Third Rome"), since, according to Filofei, there would never be a fourth Rome.