ALATYR THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL AND ALATYR UYEZD CHURCHES IN 1917–1922

Abstract

This article examines closing of the Alatyr theological school and a number of churches in the Alatyr uyezd during the years of the Soviet rule in the Simbirsk province. The article focuses on the peculiarities of the structure and the significance of the religion and the operation of the Alatyr Theological School. It is noted that the Soviet government could not accept the existence of the school and churches, because it considered them to be an obstacle to spreading atheistic beliefs among the population and strengthening their own authority in the eyes of citizens. The population as a whole did not oppose the closure of these religious buildings, but the Soviet authorities could not immediately close down the religious school because of the struggle of the Red Army with units of the People’s Army of KOMUCH that was taking place on the territory of the Simbirsk province at that time. Therefore, its liquidation stretched from 1918 to 1919. During that time, the school continued to operate, despite the official closure. The Soviet government paid great attention to the development of education of citizens. Education was an important means of propaganda, including anti-religious one. The councils wanted as many people as possible to be involved in education. The teachers had the responsibility of educating citizens, and there was not supposed to be a question the teacher could give an evasive answer to or leave it aside. The main ideologist of Soviet anti-religious propaganda was E.M. Yaroslavsky. He believed that the work of teachers had to be set on the path of anti-religious propaganda. The Soviet government created all the conditions for the population to renounce the Christianity. The existence of the Alatyr theological school, in which, from the point of view of the Soviet regime, representatives of the exploiting classes of the population studied, contradicted religious propaganda and questioned the success of this propaganda. The churches were gradually closed down by the Soviet regime, so fewer and fewer priests were required. In 1917–1922, the Soviet government managed to significantly weaken the position of the Russian orthodox church in the Alatyr district.