The twentieth century was extremely turbulent for Russian culture. The collapse of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, the devastation of World War II, the tragedy of Stalinism—all these factors affected Russian perception of society and history. In these circumstances, religion became a way in which Russian people tried to make sense of the world and preserve their identity.

Before the 1917 revolution, the Russian Orthodox Church played a key role in Russian politics and culture. Given its ties with imperial government, after the revolution, the Bolsheviks targeted the church as a reactionary and potentially anti-communist institution. On the other hand, for those who did not accept the revolution and fled abroad after the Bolsheviks came to power, religion became an integral part of their cultural identity, connecting emigrants with their history and language.

Cultural Center “Our Texas” hosts a number of items, including icons and religious books, donated by Russian emigrants and their families. These items show the ways through which Russians turned to religion and spirituality throughout the twentieth century. This includes not only Christianity but also secret societies, such as Freemasonry, and the interest in pre-Christian Slavic religion and folklore in twentieth-century literature.

The books featured in this exhibition were published in different places—the United States, China, Argentina, France—highlighting the diverse geography of the Russian diaspora that became integral in many countries, including the United States, influencing both these countries and post-Soviet Russian culture. You will be able to learn more about the items from this collection through the following slides and video lectures.

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.