церковь не в брёвнах, а в рёбрах

Russian

Etymology

Literally, “church is not in the logs, but in the ribs” (with logs referring to wooden churches, like e.g. in Kizhi Pogost). A rhyming proverb. According to Vladimir Dahl, the proverb originates from Doukhobor community. Perhaps was popularized because of Dahl, as he mentioned this proverb.

Proverb

це́рковь не в брёвнах, а в рёбрах • (cérkovʹ ne v brjóvnax, a v rjóbrax)

1. Christian faith and lifestyle is more important than participation in church service