ANALYSIS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION ON CULTS UNDER THE PRESIDIUM OF THE ALL-RUSSIAN CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IN 1929-1930

Abstract

The article deals with the work of the Commission on Cults under the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee in 1929–1930. The research topic is relevant, because. Currently, there is a rethinking of the Soviet experience of interaction between state power and the Russian Orthodox Church in the Soviet period of our history. The purpose of the study is to analyze the work of the Commission on Cult Issues and to understand its role in the development of the anti-religious policy of the Soviet government. This article examines the problems faced by the commission in resolving issues related to the interaction of the authorities, the population and the church. A great contribution to the study of the activities of the Commission on Cults was made by O.B. Prikazchikova, A.S. Kochetova, A.L. Ershov. The merit of these authors lies in the fact that they analyzed the statistical aspect of the commission's work. The main emphasis in their articles is placed on the period from 1931 to 1935. This article examines in detail the period of work of the commission from 1929 to 1930. A new substantive aspect of the commission's work is considered. The methodology of this article includes the historical-diachronic method, which made it possible to understand the internal laws of the development of the political course of the Soviet government in relation to the Russian Orthodox Church and clergy. The comparative historical method made it possible to compare some aspects of the policy of the state power of the Russian Empire and the Soviet government in relation to the Orthodox Church. The structural-system method made it possible to study the genesis of the policy of the Soviet government on the issue of its interaction with the Russian Orthodox Church in its entirety and in certain aspects. As a result of the study, it was possible to study the complaints and petitions received by the commission, the reaction of the commission members to these citizens' appeals. The activity of the chairman of the commission of the Soviet state and party leader P.G. Smidovich. In this study, archival materials from the collections of the State Archives of the Russian Federation (GA RF) are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The materials and conclusions contained in the study may be useful for teaching the "History of Russia", in the preparation of textbooks, special courses on the history of interaction between the Soviet government and the Russian Orthodox Church. The Commission made decisions regarding the Russian Orthodox Church and clergy in accordance with the current legislation of the USSR at that time. However, this legislation itself was aimed at excluding the church from social and political life and the complete eradication of faith from the minds of citizens.