Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Svâto-Tihonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta: Seriâ II. Istoriâ, Istoriâ Russkoj Pravoslavnoj Cerkvi, Vol 113, Iss 113, Pp 101-113 (2023)

the commissioners’ institution, renovationism, russian orthodox church, rsfsr, bssr, church institute, diocesan commissioners, county commissioners, congress of commissioners, ecclesiastical division, институт уполномоченных, обновленчество, российская православная церковь, рсфср, бсср, церковный институт, епархиальные уполномоченные, уездные уполномоченные, съезд уполномоченных, церковный раскол, History of Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics, DK1-4735, History and principles of religions, BL660-2680

This article attempts to give a comprehensive assessment of the process of creation, activity and liquidation of the commissioners’ institution in the system of church governing bodies of the Renovated Church in the 1920s and 1930s. Within the framework of the study, archival documents, materials from periodicals, and research were used, both by contemporaries of the events and by contemporary authors. The author draws attention to the fact that the founders of the new church institution viewed the commissioners’ institution as an opportunity to create a joint state-church apparatus. The tasks that were set before the newly formed church institution are indicated: the organization of the accelerated transfer of church power in the dioceses under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Church Polity, control of the bishops loyalty and the coordination of the activities of renovated groups. Particular attention is paid to the rights and obligations of the commissioners. The research highlights the main circumstances that determined the degree of effectiveness of this church polity institution. It is pointed out the repressive nature of the new church institution, created with the aim of seizing church power in the field and with the support of state bodies. The factors that determined the further existence of the commissioners’ institution and led to its liquidation are noted. A number of features in the functioning of the commissioners’ institution of the Renovated Church in a number of territories are considered, which was caused by the presence of separate ecclesiastical administrative units with a special ecclesiastical normative base. It is concluded that the commissioners’ institution in the field was in its essence a repressive body, which was aimed at eliminating opponents of Renovationism and the seizure of church power in the field.