The Russian Orthodox Church was devastated during World War II and continued to decline until the early 1980s because of government policies .
It underwent a small revival with the onset of perestroika and the celebration in 1988 of the 1,000 - year anniversary of Christianity in Russia .
Although the Russian Orthodox Church was devastated during World War II and continued to decline until the early 1980s because of government policies , it underwent a small revival with the onset of perestroika and the celebration in 1988 of the 1,000 - year anniversary of Christianity in Russia .