Stories of people whose faith and courage toppled Communism in Eastern Europe.

Based on over 150 interviews in Eastern Europe and Russia, Candles Behind the Wall tells the stories of people whose convictions ignited the Peaceful Revolution of 1989. These stories show the spiritual strength of the people who toppled the Berlin Wall, faced down tanks, and ended a military coup—without resorting to violence.

"Facing armed troops, 70,000 peaceful demonstrators holding candles marched around Leipzig after a prayer meeting. If a protestor became violent, the Christians formed circles around the person and turned him in to the troops. In the end, not a shot was fired." More

"When tanks surrounded the Russian Parliament building in the attempted military coupe of 1991, evangelist Shirinai Dossiva knocked on tanks and handed Bibles to the drivers, telling them, "It says here not to kill.'" More

"Russian filmmaker Alexander Ogorodnikov was imprisoned for forming the Christian Seminar. When the guards found him praying, they would fill his cell with sewage so that he had to stand for days. After his release, he helped to stabilize his country while the Soviet Union collapsed." More

Barbara Elliott, as an American journalist based in Germany, embarked on a mission to meet the people who risked their freedom and their lives to resist Communism.
Barbara tells their stories in her book, Candles Behind the Wall.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s collapse, Barbara Elliott is publishing a second edition of Candles Behind the Wall in 2019.