Russian cosmonaut takes relic of Orthodox saint into space

• Associated Press, Global Church
• April 13, 2017

Although Russia was officially atheistic for 70 years under Communist rule, the Russian Orthodox faith has experienced a revival in the years since, with a strong majority of Russians now identifying themselves as Christian. The latest sign of that fervor is cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov, who returned to earth from the International Space Station Wednesday saying he’d taken a relic of an Orthodox saint with him into space.