Points of Russia: Exploring the Land of the Tsars

Comparing Different Cultures in Russia Have you ever wondered what are the cultures and lifestyles in Russia like? Being the largest nation in the world with over 180 nationalities, Russia stands out as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Not only does the huge area offer plenty of cultural differences, but those differences are also strongly linked to the many religions practiced there. In this article we’ll take a look at the different lifestyles, cultures and religions found in Russia and how they compare. To start, we’ll take a look at religion in Russia. Christianity is the most widely practiced religion in Russia, constituting around 65% of the population. The Russian Orthodox Church is the largest denomination of Orthodox Christianity in the country, being divided into 15 autonomous churches and numbering around 100 million members. Other governmental recognized religions in Russia include Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and more. Along with the varied religious...

Important People in Russian History Throughout history, Russia has seen its fair share of influential figures, and many of them have had a major impact on the country’s development and the state of modern Russia today. From religious leaders and generals to intellectuals and poets, the people of Russia have produced a number of great minds whose legacies will surely never be forgotten. Here, we take a look at some of the most important people in Russian history, whose distinguished and inspiring lives have shaped Russia’s past and its people’s future. Ivan the Terrible Ivan the Terrible, or Ivan IV, was the first Tsar of Russia, or ruler of all the Russian lands. Under his rule, Russian culture expanded, and he is credited with modernizing the country. Ivan was born in 1530 and was crowned at the tender age of 16. He would go on to form the Oprichnina, a secret state police that violently suppressed opposition. Ivan was a deeply religious man, and he sought to unite all the various R...

Captivating Russian Fables and Folk Tales Fables and folk tales have been a part of every culture for centuries. They serve to provide lessons to society and have been passed down through the generations from one person to the next. Although these stories can be found from all over the world, Russia has some of the most unique tales that are sure to capture the imagination. From unlikely heroes to magical creatures, these tales are brimming with wonder and strange tales. When it comes to the origin of Russian fables and folk tales, there is no one definite answer. Some of them are based on real events, while others are rooted in myth and legend. Themes such as love, courage, friendship, and morality prevail throughout these tales and are often shared with younger generations in order to impart values. The Russian national fairytale writer, Alexander Afanasyev, was particularly influential in preserving these stories. He collected over 600 Russian fables and folk tales from various ...

Exploring Iconic Russian Authors Russia has produced many iconic authors who have achieved fame and admiration in the literary world. From Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky to Vladimir Nabokov and Alexander Pushkin, Russia's authors have left an undeniable mark on the world's literary canon. Here, we explore some of these iconic Russian authors and their works. Leo Tolstoy Undeniably one of the most celebrated and beloved authors of all time, Leo Tolstoy was born in 1828 to a Russian noble family. He is best known for his novels War & Peace and Anna Karenina, both of which he wrote in the late 19th century. These novels have since become iconic works of literature, and both have been adapted for the stage and silver screen. Although some argue that Tolstoy's works are characterized by their realism and epic themes, other critics suggest Tolstoy was a moralist who used his analogy-driven narratives to make philosophical and political points. Regardless of the crit...

Exploring the Influence of Slavic Mythology When it comes to the colorful history of Russia, often an important influence and foundation of the nation’s cultural identity is overlooked: Slavic mythology. The ancient mythology of the Slavic people of Eurasia has been heavily intertwined with Buddhism, Christianity, and other mythologies to create the unique culture of Russia today. How did Slavic mythology influence Russia, and what can we still see of it in modern society? Slavic mythology is rich with grand stories, gods and characters that contain universal concepts of good and evil, life and death, love and nature. Some of the best-known stories involve a smith god, a hero who battles monsters, and the creation of a sun maiden. In Slavic mythology, it was believed that death was caused by an evil Spirit of Bolest, but the soul would never really die - it would instead pass through the underworld and be re-born again in the mortal world. In many Slavic countries such as Ukraine an...