Shimon Ioann, archpriest

Methods of party and state organs in the closure of Russian orthodox churches in the Crimea in the period of 1948–1961 and attempts to counteract them by archbishop Luka (Voino-Yasenetsky)

Abstract

The article examines the policy of the Soviet government in relation to the Russian Orthodox Church in Crimea, traces the changes in the internal state of the Crimean diocese in the period from 1948 to 1961, analyzes the methods of party and state bodies to close the churches of the Russian Orthodox Church in Crimea and attempts to counter this by Archbishop Luka (V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky). The features of the implementation of the episcopal vocation are revealed on the example of the activities of the head of the diocese.During the years of “scientific atheism”, persecutions were aimed at “re-educating” believers, as well as leveling the significance of religion in the eyes of society. The fight against religion was carried out by the forces of not only the law enforcement system, but also the party and Soviet authorities, management and collectives of enterprises, trade unions, the Komsomol, and public organizations. Various methods have been used to achieve these goals. In the press and on the radio, biased and biased materials about religion and the church, as well as notes concerning specific clergymen, were posted. Priests were harassed, removed from registration, and deprived of the opportunity to preach. Pressure was exerted on the heads of dioceses and clergy, and an active propaganda campaign was conducted. On various far-fetched reasons, religious organizations were liquidated, religious buildings were demolished, and applications for the opening of new ones were rejected by the authorities. One of the methods of pressure on the Russian Orthodox Church was to increase the tax burden on religious organizations. The believers were also prosecuted. Representatives of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church played a significant role in this process.

Keywords

Russian Orthodox Church, state, anti-church policy, anti-church methods, Crimean diocese, clergy, Archbishop Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky)

References

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Information about the author

Shimon Ioann, archpriest

Student status: Graduate student;
Academic Rank: Professor;
Place of study: Church of the Martyr Benjamin, Metropolitan of Petrograd and Gdovsk in Simferopol;
ORCID: 0000-0002-3503-5786;
Email: prot.i.shimon@mail.ru.