Religion

 

Religion was barely tolerated in the Soviet Union.  Religious leaders were strictly controlled by the Party and it was not generally possible to be openly religious and a member of the nomenklatura.

The dominant religion in the Soviet Union was the Russian Orthodox church, although other religions were also tolerated.  Barely.
 
To see an enlargement of each picture, just click on it.


cathedral
  Kiev church
St. Basil's cathedral in Red Square, Moscow.
Andriivsky Church in Kiev.



priest
patriarch residence
A priest speaks with a believer at the Andriivsky Church in Kiev.
This is the residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.  The Patriarch is like the Catholic Pope, so this is sort of the equivalent to the Vatican.



patriarch chapel
 
patriarch prayer house
A church on the grounds of the Patriarch's residence.
A tiny building with a closet-size room to light candles to pray on the grounds of the Patriarch's residence.



Patriarch's office
Head church
The Patriarch's office, which is in another part of Moscow.
The church on the grounds of the Patriarch's office.



decoration
patriarch's office entrance
A decorative detail on one of the buildings of the Patriarch's office complex.
The entrance to the Patriarch's office complex.  It is oddly located in an industrial area of Moscow.  Note the factory and truck in the background.



Patriarch's office and factory
tower
A shot of the entrance to the Patriarch's office with the factory behind it.  I think this well reflects the status of religion in the Soviet Union.
These churches in Red Square, including St. Basil's cathedral, are  not functioning as churches any more.  They are used as museums.






gold dome
monestary
The writing is in old Russian.
A monastery in Kiev.



lenin tomb
prayer
Interesting juxtaposition of the old religion (St. Basil's Cathedral) with the official (Lenin's Tomb).
In the Carpathian Mountains in the west, there are faiths that combine elements of east and west, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.  This scene is on a long footpath to such a church.



cross
vlad
A Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.  Note the fervor of their religious experience.
Prince Vladimir (or Volodymyr in Ukrainian), who brought Christianity to the people of Kievan Rus.




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