Russian Life: April 1996

4: Saints and Persecutors Robert Greenall
We visit the town of Murom to examine the resurgence of Christianity in Russia.
Features

13: Invoking Heaven and Hell Mikhail Ivanov
Religious idioms and phrases in contemporary Russian.
Survival Russian

14: This Spring Gives Hope ... And Profits Andrei Polyakovsky
The Russian Orthodox Church is not just reviving spiritually, it is also getting back into business. Saint Springs water is a well-funded, successful venture run by the church.
Features

16: Laughter Through Tears Mikhail Ivanov
A look at how Russia's sense of humor has evolved from the Brezhnev years to the post-perestroika times.
Features

24: Life in a PO Box Corin Cummings
In this modern tale of two cities, we visit a closed Russian city still getting accustomed to the new era, and a poorer town that lives in its shadow. The author's photos of the closed town, Tomsk-7, are believed to be the first of this town widely published in the West.
Travel

28: The Taxi's Last Stand Scott D. McDonald
A special look at the independent traveler's mainstay in getting around town: the taxi. Do's and don'ts.
Practical Traveler

32: The King of Easter Cuisine Yelena Utenkova
Kulich is more than just a tradition at Eastertime, it is the king of the feast. Here is a recipe and some discussion of the dish's history.
Cuisine