Cooperation between the Renovationists and the GPU—OGPU in the 1920s

Abstract

The features of the methods and forms of cooperation between representatives of the Renovationist schism in the Russian Orthodox Church and employees of the GPU—OGPU in the 1920s are considered. The state of the historiography of the issue and the source opportunities for studying this problem are characterized. It has been established that the Chekists were tasked not only to establish control over the church organization, but also to make it completely transparent to the authorities. The Orthodox Russian Church has become for them a kind of experimental “testing ground” for working out Chekist technologies for combating religious organizations. It is concluded that the Renovationist Church, established in 1922 and loyal to the authorities, became the first successful project of the Chekists, which made it possible to apply their experience to other confessions.