Berkley Center

Before arriving in St. Petersburg, Russia, I never would have thought twice about the presence of religion in the daily lives of the country’s people. However, past traditions and more modern concepts of religion continue to manifest in different ways. My journey abroad seems to have taken an unexpected, yet enlightening, spiritual turn. Every exploration of the city reveals unchartered territory both literally and metaphysically.

Not a day passes when I do not see a church, preserved for decades or even centuries. I even attend classes in a building behind the impressive Smolny Cathedral. Such daily exposures are so commonplace here that the buildings almost melt into the background. However, the way in which the Russian people cherish their many famous churches keeps the spiritual sentiments high. Most churches have undergone restoration since the siege of Leningrad and the end of the Soviet era, which has recreated the architecture from the days of royalty. In older cities, such as Novgorod, the churches have been maintained since around 1100 CE. While the exterior of the older churches is a simple whitewash, the interiors are of comparable beauty to the modern ones.

The first experience of entering one of St. Petersburg’s sacred churches moved me deeply. In continuing with tradition and as a sign of respect, I covered my head with a scarf and kept it on until I had left the church. A vast majority of women of all ages follow this practice whether they are visiting the church as a tourist or as a practitioner. In addition, most people also maintain a respectable appearance when viewing a church (no sweatpants or profanity). Typically, photography is prohibited out of respect for the continuing religious services.

Entering a church in Russia creates similar sentiments to viewing royal palaces or impressive works of art. The religious devotion, depicted on every surface of the interior, is both overwhelming and peaceful. I found myself gaping at quite a few paintings on the ceilings and also the amount of decoration all around. There is a sense of great pride and spirituality from those practicing in the church, as they pray in front of different icons or listen to the words of a priest.

Contrasting my experiences of religion in the United States, the notion of practicing religion in Russia does not solely mean attending services. Instead, spirituality and religious sentiment take the form of icons, or other depictions, spread around the home. In a manner similar to the way family photographs adorn the walls, these religious images hang about, creating the feeling of an interlocking relationship between religion and daily life. There is no separation between the two, but a constant flow of both ideals. This in no way speaks for all of Russia, but does seem to be popular amongst host families of other exchange students.

One student noted that while the percentage of self-defined atheists continues to rise, attendance at church persists as a ritualistic based notion. It appears to be part of the culture in Russia, whether there is faith behind that practice or not.

For every Russian who considers themselves to be religious, there seems to be an equal number of nonreligious people. Regardless of personal sentiment, I find there is an underlying presence of spirituality in Russia, even if it is simply in the immediate beauty of a nearby cathedral.