Detailed information about religious beliefs in Russia.

Russia is a country with a historically wide variety of religious beliefs. Different religious beliefs such as Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism and Shamanism are belief systems that Russia has encountered and been influenced by throughout history. One of the most common religious beliefs in Russia is Christianity. Christianity spread to Russia in the 10th century during the reign of Kievan Rus' and became the official religion in Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church is the largest Christian denomination in Russia and the majority of Russian people belong to this denomination. Russian Orthodoxy developed under the influence of Byzantine Orthodoxy and became an important part of Russian culture. Islam is the second most common religious faith in Russia. Islam is widespread among the Muslim population living densely in the southern regions of Russia, especially in the North Caucasus and the Volga region. The influence of Islam is very strong in regions such as Chechnya, Dagestan and Tatarstan. Islam is among the accepted religious beliefs in Russia, and institutions such as the Islamic Union of Russia serve the needs of the Muslim community. Besides this, there are other religious beliefs in Russia such as Buddhism, Judaism and Shamanism. Buddhism is a religious belief that is especially influential in the Siberian and Far Eastern regions of Russia. Buddhist communities are found in regions such as Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia. Judaism is an important religious belief among the Jewish population living in major cities of Russia. Shamanism is common among the indigenous people living in the northern regions of Russia and is an important religious and cultural practice for these communities. Since Russia has historically been a multicultural and multi-religious country, it has a social structure in which different religious beliefs coexist. Russia's constitution guarantees freedom of religion and belief, and different religious communities can freely practice their beliefs.