OLD BELIEVER COMMUNITIES OF VITEBSK REGION IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1980S – 2020S

Abstract

The article characterizes the state of the Old Believer communities in the territory of Vitebsk region in the second half of the 1980s – 2020s. During this period the region was the absolute leader in the number of Old Believer religious associations in the country. In the confessional history of Belarus, the mid-1980s is marked by the revitalization of religious life, which was caused by perestroika measures. However, these processes had little impact on the activities of the Old Believers' associations of the region. The article reveals the regularities of functioning of the Old Believers' communities in the region in the second half of the 1980s. The peculiarities of state-confessional relations in this period are noted. More significant changes in the religious landscape of the region were caused by the independence of Belarus and the adoption of new legislation that regulated the activities of religious communities. The paper shows the process of formation (registration) of new Old Believer religious organizations in the 1990s, characterizes their situation in the 1990 – 2020s, and analyzes quantitative indicators.