Governmental Authorities and Orthodox Parishes in Kalmykia during the Transitional Period of Soviet Perestroika (the second half of the 1980s - 1991)

The article investigates the problem of restructured relations between the state and the Russian Orthodox Church in Kalmykia in the late Soviet period. It analyzes the religious situation in Kalmykia, reviews changes that had occurred in relations between the state and local Orthodox organizations, alongside with corresponding factors, studies behavioral patterns of the clergy and changes in the activities of the parishes. The first conciliatory gestures towards the ROC were made by the Government in 1987, but it was the 1988 celebrations of the 1000th anniversary of the Christianization of Rus’ that accelerated the development of state-Church relations in a positive way. The favorable changes proved possible largely due to the democratization processes within the Soviet society and state. In Kalmykia, the changing times coincided with the emergence of young and energetic Orthodox priests who collaborated with the authorities and preferred a strategy of adaptation, i.e. established positive relationships with power structures and observed the legislation on religious cults. They had also come into contact with the organs of Church self-administration and believers.  The legislative liberalization and already favorable attitudes of the authorities towards religious organizations provided the ROC with wider opportunities for the revival of Orthodox Christianity in the society. Kalmykia witnessed a sharp increase in church attendance (although there were only two Orthodox houses of worship), religious ritualism and incomings of the Church; foundation for further development of church infrastructure was laid.  In the late 1980s, the Russian Orthodox Church enhanced its educational and cultural activities, opening a Sunday school, the first one in the republic; and since 1989, two main Orthodox holidays were celebrated with the assistance of the authorities. A new phenomenon in public and political life of the republic was that the Orthodox clergy were involved into it, and some representatives participated in the 1989 elections of Soviets and activities of the diverse public and even political organizations. Noting the undoubted fact of the evolution of relations between the authorities of the republic and the chief executives of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kalmykia from confrontation to cooperation, however, it is important to note that the process never ended during the Perestroika period. The work is based on materials of the National Archive of the Republic of Kalmykia, most of them are newly introduced into scientific discourse.

1980-е гг

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