The Point of Bifurcation: The Orthodox Church in Soviet Russia at the Historic Turning Point of the 1940s (as Experienced in the Northwestern Regions of the Country)

• Main Author: Konstantin Obozny
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: St. Philaret’s Christian Orthodox Institute 2012-05-01
• Series: Вестник Свято-Филаретовского института
• Subjects: point of bifurcation; synergetics; fluctuation; procurator-general of the holy synod; patriarch of moscow and all russia; council for russian orthodox church affairs; commissioner of the council for russian orthodox church affairs; точка бифуркации; синергетика; флуктуации; оберпрокурор святейшего синода; патриарх московский и всея руси
• Online Access: https://psmb-neos-resources.hb.bizmrg.com/target/sfi/6febee94dbe34ccdeb6905fd94e764455d33503b/Vyp_5_K.P._Oboznyi.pdf

The aim of the present sketch is to demythologize the so-called “new course” of Stalin’s Church policies in the period from 1943 to 1949. Drawing on archival research as well as on published sources, the author has made use of the scientific concept of synergetics in seeking to determine the turning point in the history of the Orthodox Church in Soviet Russia. The point of bifurcation, the event that effected a fundamental change in the subsequent historical development of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) was the Council of Bishops of September 8, 1943 and the second restoration of the Patriarchate in Russia that it sanctioned. From that moment on not only outward Church revival started but also Stalin and the Soviet leadership began to actively involve the Church into their internal and external plans.