SPbCU Congratulates its Professor with the Publication of her Monograph
Tatyana Kirillovna Nikolskaya's book is one of the first research projects about Russian protestantism as an independent and natural occurence. The book uses naterial from 12 different state and church archives, legal documents, memories, pre-revolutionary publications and the Soviet printed Religious Chronicle.
Russian protestants (Evangelical Christians, Baptists, Pentecostals, 7th Day Adventists) were legalized in Russia in 1905 by emporere Nikolai II's command "On strengthening the beginning of Religious Tolerance". These confessions, greatly widespread among the Russian nation have become competition for the primary Russian Orthodox church. The number of Russian protestants grew even during the first Soviet decade.
Although Russian protestatns did have times of acknowledgment, they remained an unwanted and persecuted minority. Along with the repressions coming from the state, which was at its height during the 1930s, there was social resistance to the "sects". Hence, Russian protestantsw were in a tougher position than Orthodox Christianss, who were also undergoing persecution.
After the war, the committee that dealt with religious cults controled the work of religious organization. As the totalitarian regime was weakening, believers began to actively fight for independence. Resistane was seen in protest movements of Baptist-initiators, undercover Pentecostals, and Adventist reformers. Amongst the accused under religious lawas during the 1960-1980s, Russian protestants composed the biggest part. At the "sunset of socialism", authority used no only repression and propoganda to fight against them, but also compromising politics and "games", that could weaken and shatter religious movement. Only the Perestroika brought Russian protestants, as well as other confessions, real religious freedom.
The book will interest not only specialists in the field of religious history, religious-state relationships, Christian ministers, but also all those interested in the history of Christianity in Russia.
About the author: Tatyana Kirillovna Nikolskaya is a candidate of history, professor at SPbCU, author of works of the history of religion-state relationships in Russia in the 20th century.