KYIV EPARCHY WITHIN THE SOVIET RUSSIAN ANTI-RELIGIOUS POLICY IN THE 1920-ies

Abstract

Abstract. The article aims at illustrating the functioning of Kyiv eparchy under the conditions of socioeconomic upheavals during the 1920-ies and at defining the principles of the Soviet state policy towards church treasures. The Research methodology is based on general scientific principles of objectivity, historicism, systematicity, comprehensiveness, -which made it possible to accurately recreate the sociopolitical and economic standing of Kyiv eparchy and ensured the reliability of researchfindings. The scientific value of the article consists in thefact that the statistical data reflecting thefunctioning of Kyiv eparchy in the 1920-ies werefor the first time, systematized and analyzed in Ukrainian historiography. It isfound that -whether temples, monasteries and convents -were closed or destroyed. It is defined -when they ceased to be the objects ofreligious -worship. Theirfurtherfate is clarified. The article focuses on the analysis of the Soviet government policy towards the demolition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as a social institution, elimination of its religious buildings, closure of temples and theological schools, destruction of monasteries and convents, prohibition of church bells, confiscation of church property and persecution of the Orthodox priesthood in the territory of an individual church administrative unit. It clarifies the position of Kyiv eparchy of the Ukrainian exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in an age of the Soviet legislation in the 1920-ies. It specifies the principles of the Soviet policy towards church property within Kyiv eparchy, the position of its Orthodox clergy and the means of anti-religious propaganda, which made it possible to estimate the extent of material and spiritual losses of the Ukrainian people. The Conclusions. Studying the principles of the Soviet state policy towards the church treasures -within Kyiv eparchy and analyzing the standing of its Orthodox clergy, as -well as the means of atheistic propaganda, one can estimate the extent of material and spiritual losses of the Ukrainianpeople.