<P> In the postwar era, having changed its political orientation, the Orthodox Church reviewed its traditional positions . It went on to approve the accomplishments of the socialist state, and it called on believers to participate in the international peace movement . Modernist tendencies grew stronger, even in the religious aspects of ideology and practice . For example, the church no longer glorified senseless suffering, which it once considered as a road of "salvation ." </P> <P> Relations between the church and state improved considerably . For his work, Patriarch Pimen was awarded testimonials and personal medals by the Soviet Peace Fund (1969 and 1971) and the gold Fighter for Peace medal from the Soviet Peace Committee . His predecessor Patriarch Aleksy was awarded four Orders of the Red Banner of Labor and other medals of the USSR . </P> <P> By 1987 the number of functioning churches in the Soviet Union stood at 6893 and the number of functioning monasteries to 18 . </P> <P> Citizens of the USSR were permitted to form religious societies for their religious needs if at least 20 believers reached the age of 18 . Believers who composed an association performed religious rites, organized meetings for prayer, and other purposes connected to worship . They hired ministers and other persons to meet their needs, collected voluntary contributions in houses of worship for the support of their property . The Government granted the free use of houses of worship and other publicly owned property of the USSR . Russian Orthodox priests were trained at theological academies and seminaries </P>

How did the byzantine empire cause orthodox christianity to spread into russian territory