Vlad Ardelean’s Reviews > Understanding Russia: A Cultural History > Status Update

The Christian Orthodox religion was chosen on aesthetic reasons. Beauty is also an important aspect of Orthodox Christianity - therefore somewhat related to its mysticism.

It's from Orthodoxy/Russia that Eastern Europe got lots of its superstitions (whistling indoors).

The power of nobles was always great. Therefore moves to squash it (Ivan the terrible, Putin) were considered good.