Russian Orthodox Church Asserts Role in Civil Society

The Church of the Fedorovskaya Icon of the Virgin Mary, at the central Moscow campus of the Russian State Social University, was consecrated in 2006 after debate about religion’s place. By SOPHIA KISHKOVSKY 18/12/2011 MOSCOW — Just over 20 years ago, any religious education outside church walls was still banned in the Soviet Union. Today, churches are being built on state university campuses, theology departments have opened around Russia, and the Russian Orthodox Church has built its own educational network with international contacts and even become something of a model for the secular system