Religious Cult Affairs Council in 1940-1950s: Countering Reduction

The article explores the experience of establishing state bodies in Soviet Union that were involved building relationships with religious organizations. It examines relationship between leaders Council for Russian Orthodox Church Affairs (CROCA = rus. SDRPC, established fall 1943) and Religious Cults (CRCA SDRK, spring 1944). main sources research are materials from central archives Russia. is reported Colonel G. Karpov was chairman while I. V. Polyansky SDRK. Both chairmen simultaneously served security agencies: remained chief Committee State Security (KGB) many years, which led to mutual resentment personal animosity. Archive documents contain information initiated merger SDRPC He proposed creating a new organization based on them, would perform an important task secular society, hoped lead it. directions struggle preserve highlighted. data provided measures taken by Karpov, although he did not succeed implementing his idea. As time has shown, Karpov’s proposal SDRK implemented, but much later, 1965.