Today Russia marks the 67th anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War in 1945 - the Victory Day. So many words of gratitude for Russian soldiers were said previously, and even more must be said in the future. We decided to make our contribution to this day, collected the best pictures and translated signs about war and victory, grief and memory. So the unique photo collection is now available for you in English. We remember. We are proud.

There are a lot of funny jokes dedicated to Russian people and life in Russia. But only a small number of them can be joined into the whole trend with its own rules and history. "In Soviet Russia" or "The Russian Reversal" is just that unique trend. It was created for describing another, "Red" Russia, but was given a new birth our days.

The season of 2010 became extremely rich for Russian archeologists, who made a great many of surprising and really unique finds. 36 expeditions that worked in Russia and abroad made a number of stunning discoveries, which changed historians’ notions about the past.

Recently Russian government has introduced another official memorable date – the Day of Christening of Russia that is to be marked on July, 28th. The new holiday, however, is not a day off for Russians. So, what is it all about, this date?

Archeology as scientific study of objective historical monuments was well established in Russia not until the 19th century. Describing and collecting archeological monuments, however, started much earlier: relics of religious significance were kept in church vestries, whereas various antique valuables were gathered in tsars’ treasuries.

By the time of adopting Christianity the Old Rus’ was already good at wooden sculpture, moulding, and embossing. As for architecture, it surely existed, but it is hardly possible to say now at what stage of development it was, since not a single monument of the pre-Christian epoch has survived: something did not stand the test of time, while the major part was presumably destroyed by people.

From times immemorial bells were treated in quite a special way in Old Rus. Many tales and legends would tell about bells’ supernatural abilities, such as foretelling and averting danger.

The Romanovs, till the 16th century bearing the surname of the Zakharyins-Yurievs, was an old Russian boyar kin that in 1613 turned to be the tzar’s and in 1721 the emperor’s family.