Russian Orthodox Solovetsky Monastery complex, founded in the second quarter of the 15th century    Russia's Orthodox Church has finally won its battle to make religious education compulsory in schools, says Russian Orthodox Church official Viktor Malukhin. But the secularists have won concessions too

The courts are about to rule on a bitter fight for the soul of Russian Orthodoxy in Britain

Kirill, the skiing, worldly patriarch must balance openness abroad and diplomacy at home

Remembering the man who returned the Russian Orthodox Church to its nation-defining role.

For generation under communist rule religion was largely discouraged and heavily persecuted. But nearly twenty years after the collapse of the USSR worshippers and pilgrims are once again flocking to the country's revered shrines. Stella Rock joined Russian pilgrims in their spiritual attempt to unify and cleanse post-Soviet Russia.

Russia's soul is alive thanks to old women, says Marina Biryukov Plus: Stella Rock on Russian pilgrimage

Russia's liberal press laughs when an Orthodox bishop excommunicates his Patriach and calls for mobile phones to be banned. But does it mean the fundamentalists are stirring?