Appeals to the Local Council 1917–1918 in defence of the Law of God. (June-December 1917)

Abstract

The publication is devoted to the documents discovered in the archival fund of the Local Council of 1917–1918 which contain appeals of individuals and entire communities to the Council, the Holy Synod, the Minister of Confessions and other authorities with a protest against the possible withdrawal of religion lessons from school. The reason for the appearance of such appeals was the actions of the Provisional Government in July 1917, privately aimed at exclude one of the main subjects, the Law of God, from the school system. As a result, the law «On Freedom of Conscience» received a negative reaction from the Orthodox population who requested for the protection of their rights to teach the basics of Orthodoxy to children, from various authorities, one of which was the Local Council. Letters to the Council about the Law of God studies changed the Council work plan and its charter as well as they influenced the activity of the Councilors. Chronologically, the entire array of appeals is divided into two parts, which depend on the source of the Church's concern: before December 1917 — in connection with the July law «On Freedom of Conscience» and after January 20, 1918 — in connection with the decree «On the Separation of Church from State and School from the Church». Appeals reflect the general picture of that time, express the point of view of the laity on the state of things in the country, and contain practical recommendations for the effectiveness of teaching Orthodoxy. The published materials were found in the fund of the No. 3431, stored in the State Archives of the Russian Federation.