OIL FAITH SECRET EXHIBITION IN MOSCOW

MOSCOW, May 14 (RIA Novosti) - The Secret of the Old Faith exhibition has opened in the State History Museum in Moscow. It is timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the decree issued by Emperor Nicolas II "On Strengthening the Principles of Toleration" and is devoted to the history of Old Belief in Russia, business weekly Kommersant writes.

A hundred years ago Old Belief was legalized as a confession having equal rights and was recognized by the state.

The exhibition in the State History Museum occupies two small halls. It features 150 showpieces, particularly, prayer beads, used by Old Believers, special small carpets for down-to-earth bows, gifts to prominent manufacturers who were Old Believers from workers of their enterprises, icons, including two ones dating back to the 15th century, manuscripts, bishop's and monk's vestments, and the old plan of the Rogozhskoye cemetery (the Rogozhskaya community is the main Moscow center of Old Believers). The exhibition also displays genuine seals which were used to seal altars in the Old Believers' churches in the Rogozhskaya community in 1840s, and the police information against well-known Old Believers.

Russia was baptized in 988 under Grand Duke Vladimir. During the following 600 years the Russian Church was expanding and prospering, living in unity and peace.

Under Patriarch Nikon in the second half of the 17th century, the Russian Church reached the peak of its grandeur and prosperity which was followed by its split. Nikon replaced the sign of the cross made with two fingers, which had been adopted by Russia from the Greek Orthodox Church, by the sign of the cross made with three fingers. Apart from that, he made other changes in religious traditions. Nikon's reforms were opposed by outstanding religious leaders of that time, such as Bishop Pavel of Kolomna and Archpriest Avvakum. Old Believers were cruelly repressed.

The Rogozhskoye Cemetery in Moscow was the leading center of the Russian Orthodox Old Believers' Church. It was founded under Empress Catherine the Great. In 1771, plague raged in the city, and Old Believers buried the dead in a cemetery behind the Rogozhskaya Gate. Later the territory turned into the Old Believers' center with their alms-houses and churches.

By 1856, all the churches of Old Believers were taken from them and sealed. They received them back in 1905, under Emperor Nicholas II.