Are still the most beautiful places of worship in the world, as far as I’m concerned. They radiate warmth. As critical as I am of the religious establishment, I can give credit where credit is due.
There’s a fairly new church in my neighbourhood, in Ostrovskii Park, with bright blue cupolas. So much work went into it, so much labour, both delicate and back-breaking. Now that the church has been built, the parish has turned its attention to the playground and the flowers and the walkways. They’ve gotten rid of the beer-kiosk, and the place looks really nice, bookended by an old cemetery and a new office building (the original structure was erected right before the Fall, and left unfinished, for many years a grim reminder of economic catastrophe and social meltdown).
No more cheap beer on the benches, but I can live with that.
Natalia A. 
yes, the nice thing about churches here, that even new- they look beautiful and serene.
I often pop into one when I see it, which infuriates babushkas, since they have antennas on their heads that tell them who comes to pray and who – to admire the frescoes.