Will Not Been Better of the Right (Repressions Against the Orthodox Church in Sumy Region in 1920s–1930s Years)

У монографії на основі ґрунтовного аналізу широкого кола архівних та опублікованих джерел, а також історіографічної бази комплексно розглянуто репресії проти Православної церкви на Сумщині у 1920–1930-ті роки. Охарактеризовано комплекс антицерковної політики на теренах краю. Визначено роль місцевої влада та партійної номенклатури в її запроважденні. Проаналізовано механізми репресій проти Православної церкви, шляхи їх реалізації, форми утисків та переслідувань православного духовенства Сумщини. Встановлено регіональну специфіку, масштаби та наслідки репресій. Висвітлено спротив православного населення регіону антицерковній політиці більшовиків. Показано методи використання та фальсифікації тоталітарним режимом елементів демократичного суспільства для легітимізації та нав’язування незаконних рішень. Для науковців, викладачів, краєзнавців, студентів та всіх, хто цікавиться історичним минулим України.The monograph is devoted to the comprehensive study of repressions’ illustration against the Orthodox Church in Sumy region in the 1920–1930s by the punitive law enforcement agencies, organs of power and management and the clarification of the regional features of repression. For the first time repressions against the church in Sumy region became the subject of a separate scientific study. A scientific reconstruction of repressions against the Orthodox Church in Sumy region in the 1920s and 1930s was carried out as a multidimensional process aimed, on the one hand, against the church as an institution of society, on the other hand – against the clergy as its ministers. The number of closed and ruined temples in the region in the 1920–30s was determined. The number of repressed Orthodox clergy in the Sumy region in the 1920s–30s was established. The number of arrests of clerics and repressive measures against them separately for each year of the specified period are analyzed. The age, national, social and educational qualifications of the repressed are determined. In depth: understanding of the development of regional peculiarities of repression; approaches to the analysis of the factors of social contradictions that were consciously laid by the Soviet totalitarian regime for the split of society; understanding of the perception of repression by Ukrainian society; awareness of Sumy region as an ethnically homogeneous Ukrainian region with the overwhelming majority of the Orthodox population. Further development has taken: research of place, ways and forms of participation of local bodies of state and party authorities, public associations in the implementation of repressions of the 1920s–1930s; the interrelation of a totalitarian and democratic society; analysis of the use and falsification by the totalitarian regime of elements of a democratic society for the legitimization of its own existence; study of outlawed methods of influence on repressed clergy and witnesses on their accusations, methods of falsification of criminal cases. Improved the content of the concepts and terms associated with the repression of the 1920s–1930s against the Orthodox Church and the clergy. The practical significance of the obtained results is that the positions and conclusions formulated in the monograph can be used in further scientific studies of the humanities subjects. Published by the author are intended to expand the field of scientific research in such areas of the humanities as source study, history of Ukraine, history of religion. The scientific work of the author can be used to write generalizations on the history of the religious policy of the Soviet state, special works on general and regional history of the Orthodox churches and the history of Orthodoxy as a whole, preparation of special courses on the modern history of Ukraine, regional studies, history of the church, history of culture, lectures and educational activities. In the thesis by analyzing a wide range of archival and published sources and historiographical bases, comprehensively, repression of the Orthodox Church in Sumy region in 1920–1930 is reviewed. Complex anti-Church policy on the territory of the region is characterized. The basic components of repressive mechanisms against the Orthodox Church in Sumy, their scope and impact are discovered. The principles and means of implementing these mechanisms against the church, as a social institution are analyzed. The main directions, forms, methods of repression against Orthodox clergy Sumy region in 1920–1930 are described. Regional peculiarity, measure and consequences of repression are established. The features of interfaith relations in Sumy region and local authorities in these terms are defined. It is emphasized that the strategic goal of confessional policy of the Bolsheviks, in the Soviet Union in general, as well as in Sumy was a split of Orthodox Church for its discrimination and self-destruction. An attempt to compare the synchronization of the terms of the state with different directions of Orthodoxy on the Union and local levels is made. Bolsheviks’ interconfessional policy in different areas (including area of modern Sumy region) is emphasized. The total number of destroyed and repressed clergy, closed and destroyed churches in the region is specified. The study traces the evolution of repressions from political limitations of religious communities to the confiscation of church property, political, economic, tax harassment for clergymen and their destruction. The place of the pressure on the motivation of the clergy to renounce the holy order is clarified. The position and attitude of the clergymen of the region to such situation is established. The attempt to establish the number and value of the lost church property is made. The ways of getting the lost church property to the museums are traced. The work revealed that the position of the population was radically opposite to the authority’s position. The conclusion about the radicalization of anti-Bolshevik sentiment among the inhabitants of the region was made. Dissatisfied inhabitants were making public addresses. Periods and forms of resistance to repressions against the church in the region are described. It is noted that a characteristic feature was that the organizational role did not belong to the clergy but to ordinary citizens. Criminal prosecution for such actions is experienced for the first local clergy. The ways and methods of use and falsification by the totalitarian regime elements of a democratic society for legitimacy and imposition of illegal decisions are shown. The role of local government and party nomenclature in repressions’ realization in Sumy region is determined