Further Reading: Russia Establishes New Holiday Celebrating National Conversion to Christianity

Reuters reports on the first official celebration in Russia of a new holiday, approved by President Dmitry Medvedev, that commemorates the conversion of the nation to Christianity in 988.  This is the latest step Kremlin has taken to affirm its current and historical relationship with the Orthodox Church.  Rights groups have criticized the holiday as undermining Russia’s secular constitution, while members of the nation’s Muslim minority have noted the exclusionary nature of the holiday.