Kingdom of Heaven at Lake Baikal

Valerij Kurenkov becomes a believer after recovering from a serious accident. To thank God, he builds three monasteries on Lake Baikal with donations. But then the unexpected happens: the Archbishop of Irkutsk, who actually wanted to support him, develops an ever stronger opposition to his plans. Does he see his own power endangered by Valerij’s winning ways? Despite this opposition, Valerij does not give up. If he can build a monastery, he thinks, then he can also become a monk to lead it. However, for this to happen, his marriage would have to be annulled and his wife would also have to become a nun, which she does not want. In the meantime, the churches are as good as finished, but their future is uncertain…

Broadcast date:Samstag, 7. April 2018 um 19:30 Uhr auf Arte
Length:45 Min.
Written and directed by:Artem Funk, Thorolf Lipp
Camera:Thorolf Lipp , Mireia Guzmán Sanjaume
Editor:Thomas Kulik
Editorial advisor:Linde Dehner
Production:Ulrike Römhild
Executive producer:Martina Sprengel
Filming location:Irkutsk, Sergijew Possad, Bystraja, Sljudjanka