IN THE MASS PURGES OF 1920s AND 30s' COMMUNIST TERROR, MILLIONS OF PRIESTS WERE EITHER EXECUTED OR SENT TO GULAGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MONASTERIES AND CHURCHES WERE DESTROYED. AS A RESULT ENTIRE GENERATIONS OF ORDINARY RUSSIANS WERE BROUGHT UP ON COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA WITHOUT BEING EXPOSED TO RELIGION. A GROUP OF PRIESTS FROM VOLGOGRAD, FORMERLY STALINGRAD, HAVE BUILT TWO FLOATING CHURCHES ON BARGES WHICH THEY USE TO SPREAD THE WORD OF THE LORD ALONG THE VOLGA AND DON RIVERS EVERY YEAR BETWEEN MAY AND THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THIS UNPRECEDENTED ORTHODOX INITIATIVE WAS STARTED SO AS TO REACH THOSE REMOTED VILLAGES WHERE CHURCHES WERE RAZED TO THE GROUND BY THE SOVIETS OR WHERE THERE IS A LACK OF PRIESTS TO CARRY OUT SERVICES REGULARLY.