ABSTRACT
Making the development of religious life possible in a society depends on the constitution and legislation. If a phenomenon characterized as a "religious revival" or a "religious renaissance" can be observed in the USSR, it is indicative of a "pervasive process of fermentation" that Soviet society is experiencing at a time for which Khrushchev had already predicted the end of all religions in the Soviet state. Many "God seekers" take exception to the registered churches' conformity with the system, others seek nothing but their individual salvation. These latter, although they do attend services and participate in public worship and holy communion, otherwise retain their place in socialist society. The Russian Orthodox Church is the Russian national church pure and simple. Under Brezhnev it finally grew into its role as the Soviet state church in a Russian-dominated empire.
