Religions: Christianity (mostly Eastern Orthodox, also Protestant); also Islam. However, about one-third of the people are nonreligious or atheist.

Christmas is NOT celebrated in Russia on January 7th. It is celebrated on December 25th. Of course, the follow up question would be "When is December 25th?"

Pre-revolutionary Russia used the Julian calendar universally, i.e. for government, personal purposes and church purposes. When the Soviet government changed to the Gregorian calendar, the Russian Orthodox Church did not make the change. They continued using the Julian calendar, which is (currently) 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar.

Since Christmas is a religious holiday, it was not celebrated as a Soviet state holiday (focus during the Soviet era was on New Year). As a religious holiday, it continued to be celebrated in churches and in homes, privately, on December 25 - but, the December 25 used by the Church. Even with the fall of the Soviet Union, the Church still uses the Julian calendar.

Think of it this way: Go to Moscow. Buy a newspaper on January 7. Look at the date - sure enough, it will say January 7. Walk into a Russian Orthodox church, carrying that newspaper. As soon as you enter the church, it is, for all practical purposes, December 25. (No, the newspaper will not change the printed date). Any announcements, bulletins, Gospel readings etc. will reflect that today is December 25. Turn around, walk out of the church and, as soon as you exit, it is January 7.

It should be plain to see, but this also means that the date for celebrating Russian Christmas is not connected to January 6 as Epiphany, as Julian January 6 falls on Gregorian January 19, which is Russian Epiphany (usually called "Theophany" in the Russian Church).

Prince Vladimir of Kiev declared Orthodox Christianity to be the official religion of the Russian people in the year 988 AD.

The Catholic Church believes that the Russian Orthodox Church is a legitimate Church because it has seven valid sacraments. However, the Catholic Church believes that the Catholic Church alone has the fullness of truth.

Orthodox christians celebrate Easter or (aka Pascha) by the Julian Calendar which is the Old Church Calendar that was used by all Christians utill about 1600's around that time pope Gregory changed it, the Gregorian Calendar violates certain Acts of the Apostles and the rules of the Eucumenical Council. Gregorian Calendar is 13 days faster than the Julian or the Old Church calendar.

No. In some Americanized Greek Churches organs have been put in to try and blend in with Western culture. This practice is very forbidden in Eastern Orthodox churches, therefore the Greek Churches with organs are breaking church rules. This practice probably won't last.

He is an abbot or protos. You can also have an Archimandrite, who usually leads a group of monks or monasteries. An Abbot is the head of one monastery, as is also sometimes called by the Greek name of "Hegumen" or "Hegumenos." The other Greek title of "protos" means the first.

Not sure exactly what you mean by this question but i will try to answer as best I can. All Eastern Orthodox follow rules for fasting at different times of the week, and year, meaning they abstain from certain foods on certain days or for certain periods of time during the church year. For example, a strict vegan diet is usually followed on Wednesdays and Fridays to help us remember the days on which Christ was betrayed and crucified. We also follow a strict vegan diet for 47 days prior to Easter, and for 40 days prior to christmas, and for shorter periods during several other times during the year. These fasts help us to prepare spiritually for the great feast day which is to come and help us to remember why we are celebrating the holiday, and help to ensure that we do not become too caught up in the commercialism of the holidays. There are also days of strict fasting, such as Holy Friday, when it is customary to abstain from eating until sundown. The secondary purpose of fasting is to teach self discipline, so that we realize that earthly things are of less importance than spiritual things. However, Orthodox feasts and celebrations are joyous affairs, accompanied by beautiful music, and wonderful food, so please don't get the idea that orthodox Christians are a grim, sour faced group. On the whole they are fun loving, warm and hospitable, and a joy to be with. Hope this helps answer your question.

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Orthodox Christian Church. However, on earth, there are several spiritual heads, or ecclesiastical leaders who guide the flock. In Russia, the spiritual head is His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia, who presides over the Holy Synod.

Lenin played an active role is trying to end the power of the Russian Orthodox Church. His reign of terror saw the destruction of churches and the killing of priests, monks and nuns. The Orthodox Church was declared illegal under the Communist regime and a systematic campaign of persecution and killings took place under Lenin and the other Communist leaders. Millions of Orthodox people were killed during the 70 years of Communism in Russia.

The Russian Orthodox Church does not ordain priests.