This book is an in — depth study of the historical, cultural, religious, and social foundations of the Russian family and traditional values. She examines how the concepts of family, marriage, parenthood, and morality have been shaped over the centuries by Orthodoxy, government policy, the peasant way of life, and the Soviet experiment. The book is not ideological propaganda, but strives for an objective analysis.: what are «traditional values» in the Russian context, how do they manifest themselves today, how do they change under the pressure of modernity, and how do they affect everyday life? The book is intended for readers interested in history, sociology, culture, and family politics, as well as for those who want to understand what lies behind modern discussions about the family in Russia.