How it was that in the eighteenth century Russian mythology was trumped-up in the Western manner? Who wanted it? And where did we get Lel, Yarilo and Zimtserla? We explain everything you'd want to know about Russian fakelore.

Abortion rights and domestic abuse have come under fire of late, marking some new battle lines in the social sphere.

City, state and citizens battle over the future of St. Issac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg

A strange church in St. Petersburg’s outskirts offers a fascinating historical side trip.

On October 14, 1991, St. Basil’s Cathedral was reopened after six decades. Here are five fun facts in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Cathedral’s rebirth.

On July 8, Russia celebrates the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, a holiday aimed at promoting traditional family values, more commonly known as Fevronia's Day. What's it all about?

Nikolai Gontar leads us on a trip to the Republic of Mariy El, home to layered pancakes and some very unusual architecture.

The Great Lent is forty days when the Church is involved in repentance, fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

Russia's Maslenitsa week has begun! So what's it all about?

This week, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill met in Havana. Why was this such a big deal?

Text of an interview Pet Hawk author Dmitry Chen gave to Moscow News, upon the release of the book in Russian, in 2007.

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.