The Russian Orthodox Church, 1917-1948

This book tells the remarkable story of the decline and revival of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Soviet Union in the first half of the twentieth century. Following 1917, the Bolsheviks' anti-religious policies led to a significant decline in the church in the 20s and 30s. However, in 1939, Stalin gave the Patriarch of Moscow jurisdiction over orthodox congregations in Poland and later encouraged the church to promote patriotic activities in resistance to the Nazis. He agreed a Concordat with the church in 1943 and continued to encourage the church in the immediate postwar period. Based on extensive original research, this book puts forward a great deal of new information and overturns established thinking on many key points.

Autorentext

Daniela Kalkandjieva is a Researcher at the University of Sofia, Bulgaria

Inhalt

Introduction 1. The Dissolution of the Russian Orthodox Church (1917-1939) 2. The Sergian Church in the Annexed Territories (September 1939 - June 1941) 3. The Holy War of the Sergian Church 4. The Sergian Church and Western Christianity 5. The Moscow Patriarchate Restored 6. The Growth of Moscow's Jurisdiction 7. Russian Émigré Churches beyond Stalin's Grasp (1945-1947) 8. The Moscow Patriarchate and the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches outside the Soviet Union (1944-1947) 9. Toward an Eighth Ecumenical Council (1944-1948) Conclusion