Throughout its inglorious 74-year history, the government of the former Soviet Union took a dim view of organized religion. Karl Marx famously called religion the "opium of the masses," and Soviet leaders were smart enough to see that communism would fare better without the church around as competition. Yet don't ever count the church out too soon. Russian churches are drawing larger crowds than ever and there's evidence that even during the Stalin years significant numbers of Soviet citizens continued to worship and celebrate Christmas.
I recently ran across this collection of Soviet Christmas songs, which reminds me of the many horrors the Russian people have had to endure over the centuries. I fervently hope their latest affliction is removed from power soon.
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