Today, now that the huge dome of St. Isaac’s towers over the center of the city, not far from the granite embankment, the sumptuous Senate and Synod Building, and the iconic Bronze Horseman statue, it is hard to imagine that in its first incarnation this church was much smaller and located on the Admiralty Meadow.

Both science and religion shed (northern) light on the Aurora Borealis. 

In which we look at how Russian painters have been inspired by Maslenitsa.

This fascinating wooden sculpture exhibition is running in St. Petersburg through mid-Febuary. For those who cannot visit, we offer a photo feature and notes from the curator.

Russia has its own way of marking Twelfth Night (Ephiphany). But as a Christian holiday it misses the mark.

This week is all about the places where Russians and new cultural phenomena meet, for better and for worse.

Ukraine will soon have its own independent Orthodox church, fueled by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Climate change is destroying Russia and people still want to duel, but at least someone’s getting free pizza.

The life of a beloved princess changed immeasurably when her husband, an heir to the Russian throne, was murdered by terrorists.

Icons have been revered in Russia for centuries, and when it comes to miracle-working icons, pilgrims will travel thousands of kilometers to seek their divine assistance. 
We look at three you can find in Moscow.

A few words about two brothers who rejected their family's wealth and became known as the Apostles of the Slavs. They never visited Russia, but they translated the Gospel into Slavonic.

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.