VOICED : Once a shrine to Lenin his birthplace city seeks a new identity

The video discusses the closure and destruction of Orthodox churches across the Soviet Union after the 1917 revolution, focusing on the region of Simbirsk. It highlights the communist regime's anti-religious campaign and the symbolic use of the city as a center of atheism. After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, religion began to re-emerge, with Father Alexis Church opening that year. Initially, authorities were unsure how to interact with priests, but communication improved over time. The video also addresses concerns about the growing relationship between the Orthodox Church and the authorities, noting the ironic presence of both a large Lenin museum and numerous churches in the birthplace of the Russian Revolution's leader.

What was the primary goal of the communist regime in the city of Janowsky?

• To preserve religious heritage

• To promote Triumphant atheism

• To build more churches

• To establish a cultural center

What significant change occurred in Russian towns after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991?

• The establishment of new political parties

• The construction of new government buildings

• The re-emergence of religion

• The introduction of new educational reforms

How did authorities initially react to the presence of priests in the 1990s?

• They welcomed them warmly

• They were suspicious and unsure how to interact

• They immediately collaborated with them

• They ignored them completely

What concern does the communist activist express about the relationship between the Orthodox Church and authorities?

• The church is losing influence

• The authorities are neglecting the church

• The relationship is becoming too intrusive

• The church is gaining too much power

What ironic situation exists in the birthplace of the Russian Revolution today?

• It has become a major tourist destination

• It is completely secular

• It has the world's largest Lenin museum and more churches than before 1917

• It has no churches at all