The vast majority of Russians identify as Orthodox Christians, loyal to the religion that came here more than thousand years ago. However, many Russians see their Christian identity as quite symbolic.
When a priest at the most Eastern Orthodox church in Russia, situated on the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea (almost 5,000 miles east of Moscow), starts to conduct his morning liturgy at 8 AM, the previous day isn't even over in the capital. No other religion is so widespread in Russia; almost every community, big or small, hosts its own Orthodox church.
It's not surprising: according to statistics, approximately 75% Russian citizens consider themselves Orthodox Christians. But how did it all start?
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