The following book “Anti-Religious Alphabet” was published in Leningrad in 1933. The author of the pictures was Mikhail Mikhailovich Cheremnykh (1890-1962) – a Soviet graphic artist, cartoonist, book illustrator.

Each word in the poetic phrases accompanying the pictures begins with the corresponding letter of the Russian alphabet. Translation gives just a general meaning of these short phrases, but of course, if you know Russian, then this historical document is especially interesting. However, the illustrations themselves give some insight into the attitude to religion during the first decades of the Soviet regime. Source

1. Anti-Religious Alphabet.

godless ABC

Tags: propaganda · Saint Petersburg city · Soviet past

Veliky Novgorod, one of the oldest cities in Russia, is located in the north-west of the European part of the country. The main attraction of the city is the preserved complex of its medieval fortifications – the Novgorod Kremlin.

Located on the left bank of the Volkhov River, this architectural monument of federal significance as part of the historic center of Veliky Novgorod is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Photos by: Stanislav Konstantinov.

explore the old Russian fortress

Tags: Novgorod city

The Pskov Krom (Kremlin), the core of the Pskov Fortress, is the historical and architectural center of Pskov – one of the oldest cities in Russia located in the north-west of its European part, just a few dozen kilometers from the border with Estonia.

The height of the walls is up to 6-8 meters, the height of the towers is up to 35 meters, the thickness of the walls of the towers is 2.5-6 meters. The total area is 3 hectares. Photos by: Stanislav Konstantinov.

feel the spirit of medieval Russia

Tags: Pskov city

The following photos were taken by an unknown person belonging to the so-called Czechoslovak Legion, which stuck in Russia after the revolutionary events of 1917 and played an important role during the Russian Civil War. Source: humus

1. Small person guiding a blind one

Russians just a hundred years ago

Tags: Russian Empire

A Storied Start

Russia is a large, ancient, and cultured country that has been a main player in the history of the world for a long time. The Russian Empire did not start as large and powerful as it is today. It all started with the Eastern Slavs, a group of loosely banded together groups. The Eastern Slavs became the first state of its kind in 882. The group grew even larger in 988 when it adopted Christianity from the Byzantine Empire.

The Byzantine Empire was a very influential and powerful civilization dating all the way back to 330 A.D. The empire was born when Emperor Constantine, a psychopathic politician, created a “New Rome” on an old Byzantine colony. While Rome itself would collapse before 500 A.D., the eastern half would continue on for another 1,000 years. This is how even ancient Rome influenced the rise of Russia.

Ancient Russians at Dnieper by Nicholas Roerich.

turbulent history of Russia

Tags: No tags

Ivan Alekseevich Vladimirov (1869-1947), a Russian painter and draftsman, became known as the artist of the realistic school of painting.

In 1917-1918, he worked in the Petrograd militia. This experience helped him to create a unique cycle of documentary sketches of the events of these years. Source: humus.

1. 1917. Dismantling of imperial coats of arms (Down with the eagles!). The signs on the building – Drugstore. February.

turning point in the history of Russia

Tags: Saint Petersburg city · Soviet past

Kazansky Railway Station (until 1894 – Ryazansky Railway Station) is one of the nine railway stations of Moscow. The construction of the present building of the station, designed in the pseudo-Russian style, began in 1913 and ended only in 1940.

One of the significant architectural elements of the station building is the hall of the former restaurant. This part of the station was built in the mid-1920s. Today, it is used as a high comfort waiting room. Kazansky Station on Google Maps. Photos by: Vadim Razumov.

beautiful interiors

Tags: Moscow city

Izborsk, first mentioned in 862, is one of the oldest Russian towns. Today, it is a tourist center with the status of the state historical, cultural and natural museum-reserve located in the Pechora district of the Pskov region, 32 km south-west of Pskov.

The main attraction of Izborsk is its old limestone fortress built in the first half of the 14th century. Inside you can also see the Nikolsky Cathedral of the 14th century. Izborsk Fortress on Google Maps. Photos by: Stanislav Konstantinov.

picturesque stone fortress

Tags: Pskov oblast

This album of projects of urban and rural buildings of the Russian Empire was compiled by the engineer-architect V.G.Zalessky with the participation of a number of other engineers and architects in 1881 – a very interesting document of its time with beautiful illustrations. Source: humus.

architecture of the Russian Empire

Tags: Russian Empire

Tobolsk is a city with a population of about 100 thousand people located in the north of the Tyumen region. It was founded as a center for the development of Siberia in 1587.

Since 1708, Tobolsk was the center of the Siberian province stretching from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean. In the 19th century, Tobolsk lost its economic importance. Today, it is one of the most important center of cognitive tourism in Siberia.

Tobolsk – past and present

Tags: Tobolsk city · Tyumen oblast