ABSTRACT
The growing number of refurbished and newly erected church buildings, monasteries and other religious sites across Russia is the most visible sign of the resurgence of Russian Orthodoxy. These religious places, however, can carry very different meanings, and so additional efforts are necessary for making them more effective. The introduction of the festive day was strongly supported by politicians and some clergymen. But the clergy was much more reluctant to support the festive day wholeheartedly, and so the primary drivers for the introduction were politicians. During socialism, festive days were largely meant to foster new identities and to gain legitimacy for the socialist leaders and their ideology. There is ample evidence of how the ritual calendar was manipulated in Eastern Europe during that time. In many cities of the Russian Federation, monuments to saints are one important aspect of public religion.
