How the Orthodox Church united with the Soviet regime during the Great Patriotic War

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

After the formation of the Soviet state, there was a fierce struggle against religion, which did not spare the clergy of any denomination. However, the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, with the threat of the capture of the country by the enemy, united the previously almost irreconcilable parties. June 1941 was the day when the secular and spiritual authorities began to act together in order to unite the people with patriotism to rid the Motherland of the enemy.

How the Orthodox Church was able to forget old grievances and take the side of the Soviet regime

In the period after the 1917 revolution, before the start of the Great Patriotic War, almost 40,000 religious buildings, closed for the eradication of religion, ceased to function in Russia alone. This is despite the fact that the majority of the multinational population born before the formation of the Soviet Union traditionally adhered to one or another religion that existed for centuries in the Russian Empire.

Thus, according to the statistics of 1937, 84% of the illiterate citizens of the country were believers; among the educated, almost 45% of the population had religious convictions. However, despite the considerable number of adherents of religion, churches, mosques and synagogues were massively closed, and priests often ended up in prison camps.

It seemed such an obvious injustice in relation to religion and its representatives should have generated among them numerous opponents of the new government, who wanted to get rid of it in any way. Including standing on the side of an external enemy. Nevertheless, this did not happen - most of the clergy who survived the persecution, forgetting their grievances, supported the Soviet government immediately after the attack on the country by the Nazi invaders. Already on June 22, 1941, a few hours after the start of the war, the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Sergius (Ivan Stragorodsky in the world), through his "Epistle to the Pastors and Flocks of the Christian Orthodox Church," called on the flock to stand up for the defense of the Fatherland.

What was the significance of the "Message" of Metropolitan Sergiy Stragorodsky for the Soviet regime?

All public appeals from representatives of religion were prohibited by the existing law. However, at that moment the Soviet leadership made an exception, as they understood that people needed not only moral, but also spiritual support. The text of the Message was aimed at awakening state patriotism and conveyed, with the help of historical examples, the spiritual idea of a military feat, as well as the importance of civil labor in the rear for the Motherland.

Appreciating the help of the church leadership, the authorities, in turn, released a significant number of clergy from prison as a token of gratitude. Moreover, starting in 1942, Moscow was allowed to hold the Easter service and did not interfere with the all-night festivities. Since 1943, priests could be at the front, and in the same year I. Stalin specially organized a meeting with the country's supreme clergy to show the unity of the state and the church in the struggle against the common enemy.

Thanks to this meeting, theological academies were opened in Leningrad, Kiev and Moscow, and a little later the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Holy Synod under the Patriarch were formed.

What the Orthodox Church did for the front

The Russian Orthodox Church was engaged in divine services and preaching activities not only in the rear and front-line zones, but also right under enemy fire. At a crucial moment in the defense of Moscow, the plane, which had on board the icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God, made an air procession, circling the entire city. Also, during the difficult period of the Battle of Stalingrad, Metropolitan Nicholas of Kiev and Galicia conducted long prayers before the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

The Leningrad priests showed a real feat during the blockade of the city. The services were going on, despite the massive shelling and bombing, despite the terrible hunger and severe frost. By the spring of 1942, out of six clergymen, only two elderly clergymen survived. And they continued to serve: barely moving from hunger, they went to work every day to "lift and strengthen the spirit in people, to encourage and comfort them in grief."

Along with the enthusiasm of the civilian population and fighters, the church participated in the formation and development of the partisan movement. In the next Message of Metropolitan Sergius, which he wrote on June 22, 1942, it was said: “Residents of the territories temporarily occupied by the enemy, who cannot be in a partisan detachment for various reasons, should, if not with participation, then help him with food and weapons, hide from enemies and treat the partisans' business as their own, personal business."

Often, by personal example, the priests inspired the flock to urgent work, leaving after a church service, for example, to work in the collective farm fields. They patronized military hospitals and helped care for the sick and wounded; in the front-line zone, shelters were organized for the civilian population, as well as dressing points were created, which were in high demand during the protracted retreats of 1941-1942.

What role did the Russian Orthodox Church play in Victory

The contribution of the church in the form of collecting donations for the front is invaluable in order to bring the victory closer: the funds were transferred not only by the parishioners, but also by the priests themselves. In Leningrad alone, more than 16 million rubles were collected, and in the period 1941-1944 church fees for the military needs of the USSR exceeded 200 million rubles. Every major financial donation by clergy or civic organizations was necessarily reported in the newspapers Pravda and Izvestia.

Church transfers helped in providing the armies with weapons and food, and it was at their expense that a tank colony was created, named in honor of Dmitry Donskoy, and a squadron named after St. Alexander Nevsky was formed.

In addition, the Orthodox Church significantly contributed to the creation of a positive image of the USSR in the eyes of the allies, when the issue of opening the 2nd front was being decided: this fact was noted even by the German side of intelligence. Many priests, including those who managed to pass through prison camps or were previously in exile, made a personal contribution to the Victory, participating in battles at the front or in a partisan detachment behind enemy lines.

All members of the Orthodox clergy must let go of their beards. This is a very ancient custom that is being followed unquestioningly. That is why it is surprising that in some religions it is prescribed to wear a beard, while in others it is strictly forbidden.