State Museum of the History of Religion

The museum was founded in 1932 and was located in the Kazan Cathedral. On June 8, 2001, the exhibition opened at a new address. It is the world’s first museum of religious history. It has a unique thematic collection of monuments of the general history of religions (more than 180,000 units), formed over a long time and reflecting the evolution of religions from antiquity to the present day. It has a scientific and historical archive (manuscript books and other documents of the XVII - XX centuries), a profile library (about 180,000 books and journals in different languages, including a collection of incunabula and rare books). Part of the new permanent exhibition (Archaic beliefs and rites, Religions of the Ancient World) has been opened. The origin and essence of Christianity, Russian Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism, in the process of creating the Department of Religion of the East and other departments. It is the All-Russian Methodological Center for Religious Studies, assists other museums in the creation of expositions, conducts internships for museum workers. Conducts comprehensive research on the history and philosophy of religion, collecting and exposition work in the following areas: archaic and traditional beliefs, religions of the ancient world, national religions of India, China, Japan, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc. The building was built according to the project of A.K.Kavos in the middle of the XIX century. Belonged to the post office. It is typical of the eclectic era.