THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT TO CLOSE ORTHODOX CHURCHES ON THE TERRITORY OF THE EASTERN TRANSBAIKALIA IN THE 1930S

Abstract

The article describes the features of the Soviet government's activities in Eastern Transbaikalia to close Orthodox churches in the most difficult period of its Orthodox history – in the fourth decade of the XX century. It is noted that this time in the history of Orthodoxy in the region is poorly studied. The few available publications contain fragmentary data on the problem. This predetermined the appeal to the sources-the documents of the State Archive of the Russian Federation (SARF). On their basis, data on specific churches are provided, in some cases, the closure process is described, some communities of believers are mentioned, and the correspondence of believers with the OCAK containing complaints about the actions of local and regional authorities is characterized. The research is based on the principles of objectivity and historicism. The work is based on general scientific methods of collecting, analyzing and synthesizing material, as well as special methods of historical knowledge. It is noted that in the history of the closure of churches in Eastern Transbaikalia in the 1930s, there are controversial points that require clarification. In general, the data on the problem field of the article, to date, seems sketchy, which determines the need for further work with sources to clarify the available information and supplement the picture with new facts.