It was Christmas in Russia* last week, and for the first time since the Bolshevik Revolution Russians crowded Orthodox churches, with the blessing of the Soviet Government. Moscow's 50 churches were jampacked. Patriarch Sergei (TIME, Dec. 27), recovered from the flu, celebrated the Christmas service in Moscow's Bogo-yavlensky Cathedral. Worshipers were packed so tight that few of them could raise their arms to make the sign of the cross. Outside, the cold streets were thronged with reverent crowds.
*Russia uses the Julian calendar, according to which Christmas falls 13 days after the Gregorian-calendar Christmas.
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