March 21, 2007 -- Harvard University has agreed to return 18 massive brass bells brought from Moscow nearly 80 years ago during a Soviet-era crackdown on religion.
A delegation from the U.S. university signed an agreement with the Russian Orthodox Church on March 20, under which the bells are due to return to Danilovsky Monastery by summer next year. In return, Harvard will receive 18 replicas.
The bells were bought by industrialist Charles R. Crane from the Soviet government in 1930.
(AP, Interfax, ITAR-TASS)
RFE/RL Russia Report
RFE/RL Russia Report