Religion in Russia through Books

Digital and in-person exhibition and a lecture series

Online launch: April 17

On view at the center: May 1–8 and May 22–29

Lectures by Dr. Stanislav Panin: May 1 and 22, 7:30 PM

RCC Our Texas 2337 Bissonnet St. Houston, TX 77005

The Cultural Center “Our Texas” launches a digital exhibition on Russian religion in the 20th century, featuring over 20 vintage books and Eastern Orthodox icons donated by the families of Russian emigrants. The collection includes a wide range of texts, from Christian literature to Soviet-era fiction and non-fiction. The online version of the exhibition is accessible via the center’s website complete with companion lectures on YouTube, marking the start of the “Religion in Russia through Books” series curated by Dr. Stanislav Panin.

Dr. Panin, a religious studies expert, leads the program that also includes in-person lectures and book exhibits at the center through May. The first lecture, on May 1, focuses on Russian immigrants in the United States. It examines how religion sustained cultural identity and helped to build social networks in the diaspora while also exploring the interplay between Russian and American spiritual traditions.

The second lecture, on May 22, covers Russian diasporic life spotlighting emigrant publications printed in China and Latin America. It traces how Russian spiritual traditions evolved in different parts of the world focusing on book publishing as a vehicle for cultural preservation and a way to imagine alternative futures and transform Russian society through cultural interventions.

Both lectures are accompanied by curated displays of Russian books and icons, offering tangible access to diverse spiritual expressions of the Russian diaspora.

Dr. Stanislav Panin is a religious studies scholar with expertise in the history of contemporary spirituality in the Soviet Union and the Russian diaspora. He holds a PhD from Rice University and is passionate about bridging academic research with public understanding. He is especially interested in the global nature of contemporary spirituality and intercultural, transnational connections. His interdisciplinary approach connects religious studies with other fields, including literary history and social sciences.

Admission is free.

The exhibition is open Monday–Friday: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM, Saturday–Sunday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

The program is supported by Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.