ACCORDING to the decree of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church "On the procedure for Opening Churches", approved by the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR on November 28, 1943,1 the starting point of the process of opening a church for worship services was the petitions of believers who applied to various state and church authorities regarding the transfer of a religious building to the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church. All the written petitions of believers for a particular church formed a single "case", and when there were several petitions for one church, the arguments given by believers in them were recognized by the authorities as relevant, the set of documents was handed over to the commissioner, who submitted materials to the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, which until 1955.2 decided to transfer the church to the jurisdiction of the diocese. If there were no petitions from the faithful about the need to provide them with a church for worship, then, according to the legislation on cults, even if there was a request from the diocesan authorities, the work of the authorities to open the church did not begin.31. Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of November 28, 1943 "On the order of opening churches" / / GARF. F. R. -5446. Op. 1. D. 221. L. 4. 2. Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 259 of February 17, 1955 "On changing the procedure for opening Prayer buildings"//Ibid. d. 638. l. 67. 3. Instructions of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Plenipotentiaries. Approved By the Council on August 26, 1945/ / RGASPI. F. 17. Op. 132. D. 110. L. 56. Section 1. 11. 1. page 204In the instructions drawn up for the commissioners of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1945, it was determined that the commissioner, after receiving the petitions of believers, had to check their authenticity: the main information wa ... Read more