Religion

Vsevolod Chaplin, a high-profile religious conservative, was dismissed with little explanation on Thursday. He says he was sacked because church authorities want to silence independent voices.

The first mosque recently opened its doors in the rural town of Gillette, Wyo. It didn't get much attention at first, but then a group of locals started a Facebook group called "Stop Islam in Gillette." This has been hard for a Muslim family with deep roots in the area.

A new report from the Pew Research Center shows a growth spurt for Islam — and a change in the hub of Christianity.

For decades, Falls Church Anglican in suburban Virginia has staged a nativity concert for hundreds of people on Christmas Eve. For many, the event captures the essence and innocence of the season.

Across India, Christian communities make sweet homemade wines for the festive season from an array of local fruit, roots and grain. But the know-how behind this ancient tradition may be disappearing.

The Christian population is dropping in areas where Islamic State fighters are targeting religious minorities. At least a thousand Christians have been killed. Hundreds of thousands have fled.

They tower on stilts, they're draped in hay, they dance like crazy and demand a holiday tip. But don't worry — they're really nice!

The family of eleven had valid travel permits, and was set to visit Disneyland and see relatives in California. They don't know why they were not allowed to board.