Theological Courses as an Activity of the Old Believer Brotherhood Named after Archpriest Avvakum in Leningrad in the 1920s

Abstract

The article examines activities of the Old Believer Brotherhood named after Archpriest Avvakum, which was organized in Leningrad (St. Petersburg / Petrograd) in the 1920s by the Old Believers of the Petrograd–Tver’ diocese under the rule of Bishop Geronty (Lakomkin). The research is based on archival materials, which show that one of the main tasks of the Brotherhood was the organization of theological courses. The article also reveals the history of the relationship between the Brotherhood and the government from 1922, when the Brotherhood was established, until 1930, when it was officially closed, after which in 1932 the diocese was destroyed by the OGPU (Unified State Political Administration).