Boris Perchatkin

Documentary materials on the activities of associations of Christians of Evangelical Faith in the Soviet Union (1943-1965), held in the State Archive of the Russian Federation

· Documents, Pentecostals, Book Reviews, USSR

State-church relations were one of the essential elements in the political history of the Soviet Union. State policy towards religious associations was directly implemented through central administrative bodies specially created for this purpose under the Council of People’s Commissars (Council of Ministers) of the USSR, which had their representatives in the union and autonomous republics, territories, and regions. Starting from the mid-1940s, these were: the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church (1943–1965), the Council for the Affairs of Religious Cults (1944–1965), and the Council for Religious Affairs (1965–1991).

Over nearly half a century of activity by the above-mentioned organizations, an enormous collection of documents has accumulated, now consolidated into a single fond “Council for Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR” and held in the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GA RF. F.R.-6991. Inventories No. 1–10).
This fond is a unique assemblage of documents and materials of the most varied nature, most fully and comprehensively reflecting religious life in the Soviet Union, the activities of confessions and clergy, inter-religious relations within the country, ties of religious organizations with foreign centers and associations, and also the practical activity of the state and its administrative bodies (central, regional, local) as well as state and party figures in relation to religions, churches, and believers.
To date, researchers who have worked with documents from this fond at various times have barely managed to “cover” 10–15% of its total volume. This is largely due to the fact that for decades a significant portion of it was kept under “secret” and “top secret” classification, hardly accessible to Soviet scholars and entirely inaccessible to representatives of religious organizations and foreign researchers. At present, one of the main obstacles to its study is the absence of finding aids and guides to this vast sea of documents.
One of the first steps towards creating an information base to help researchers working with the documents of the Council for Religious Affairs fond was the Annotated Catalog of Documents from the Archive of the Council for the Affairs of Religious Cults under the Council of Ministers of the USSR prepared by the author. Its five issues were published in small print runs by the editorial office of the journal “Historical Archive” in the 1990s. The entire print run has been distributed and nowadays this edition is a bibliographic rarity.
The catalog includes a description of 468 archival files entered in inventory No. 4 and relating to the activities of the Council for the Affairs of Religious Cults under the Council of Ministers of the USSR (1944–1965). They are: minutes of the Council’s meetings; records of receptions by the Council’s leadership and staff of ministers of cult and believers, members of foreign religious delegations, and representatives of the public; reports on the stay of foreign church figures in the USSR and of religious delegations from the USSR abroad; statistical, reference-information, analytical, and other materials on religious organizations in the USSR and beyond its borders; documents directly submitted to the Council by religious organizations; materials reflecting the financial-economic and administrative activities of the Council’s central apparatus; as well as statistical summaries and data for 1944–1965 on prayer buildings, religious associations, monasteries, theological educational institutions, ministers of cults, and citizens’ applications for the opening of prayer buildings, both for the USSR as a whole and for each union republic; and materials from the one-time inventory of religious associations, buildings, and ministers of cults conducted in 1961 in the republics, territories, and regions of the Soviet Union.
Below we present extracts from the Catalog containing information on the activities of associations of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals) on the territory of the USSR. In our view, this information will be useful for religious organizations, centers and missions, religious and secular educational and scholarly institutions, religious studies scholars, archivists, publishers, and all those interested in the Soviet history of the 1940s–1960s.
ANNOTATED CATALOG OF DOCUMENTS
FILE No. 9
CORRESPONDENCE AND CONNECTIONS OF AUCECB, AUASD, MOSCOW OLD-BELIEVERS ARCHDIOCESE WITH RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ABROAD (CZECHOSLOVAKIA, ROMANIA, POLAND, CHINA, HUNGARY, GDR) (1944–1954)
Letter from the representative of the Polish Church of Evangelical Christians-Baptists O. Kirtsun to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
August 27, 1945. L. 112. Typewritten copy
Letter from the Chairman of the AUCECB Ya.I. Zhidkov and the General Secretary of the AUCECB A.V. Karev to the representative of the Polish Church of Evangelical Christians and Baptists A. Kirtsun, with information about the joining of Pentecostal communities to the AUCECB, and a request to report on the evangelical movement in Poland
n.d.
L. 113. Typewritten copy
Letter from Vashkevich (Poland) to the AUCECB explaining the reasons for moving from the BSSR to Poland
August 26, 1947. L. 119–119v. Typewritten copy
Letter from G. Schmidt addressed to Panko, with information on the situation of CFE communities in Nazi Germany
October 4, 1942. L. 200–200v. Typewritten copy. Translation
FILE No. 10
CORRESPONDENCE AND CONNECTIONS OF AUCECB, AUASD, MOSCOW OLD-BELIEVERS ARCHDIOCESE WITH RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS AND VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS ABROAD (USA) (1944–1953)
Letter from the representative of the Russian and East European Mission N. Peisti (USA) to Ya.I. Zhidkov, with information on the activities of his organization, expressing support for the unification of Pentecostals, Evangelical Christians, and Baptists in the USSR, and concerning the attitude towards “glossolalia”
October 5, 1946. L. 84–85. Typewritten copy. Translation
Letter from a member of the Russian Bible Society in the USA P. Voronaev to the Council, requesting to report on the whereabouts and state of health of his father I.E. Voronaev
September 2, 1947. L. 117–118. Original
FILE No. 11
CORRESPONDENCE AND CONNECTIONS OF AUCECB, AUASD, MOSCOW OLD-BELIEVERS ARCHDIOCESE WITH RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS ABROAD (AUSTRALIA, ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, ISRAEL, ITALY, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY AND JAPAN) (1944–1954)
Letter from I. Efimchuk (Argentina) to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
May 20, 1946. L. 30–30v. Typewritten copy
Letter from K. Leshchuk (Argentina) to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
May 21, 1946. L. 31. Typewritten copy
Letter from K.M. Novik (Argentina) to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
June 4, 1946. L. 33. Typewritten copy
Letter from A.G. Yavnyuk (Argentina) to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
June 5, 1946. L. 34. Typewritten copy
Letter from the secretary of the South American Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith I.N. Vinnichenko to Ya.I. Zhidkov concerning the attitude towards the unification of Evangelical Christians, Baptists, and Christians of the Evangelical Faith into a single union
June 26, 1946. L. 37. Typewritten copy
Letters from E.D. Kharabora (Argentina) to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith with Evangelical Christians-Baptists
August 27, 28, 1946. L. 39–41; 54–55. Typewritten copy
Letter (in two copies) from the Chairman of the All-Canada Union of Evangelical Christians I.K. Guk to the AUCECB, in which he reports a negative attitude towards the unification of Evangelical Christians and Baptists with Pentecostals and requests a more detailed explanation of the principles and conditions of this unification, also informing about the transfer of funds to the AUCECB and offering to continue the exchange of religious literature
February 18, 1946. L. 112. Typewritten copy
Letter from the secretary of the Russian Union of Baptists in Canada P.P. Kolyada to the AUCECB approving the formation of the AUCECB, inviting [them] to visit America, and also offering to exchange religious literature.
March 7, 1946. L. 113. Typewritten copy
Letter from one of the leaders of the Pentecostals in Canada P.L. Miishchuk to A.V. Karev with gratitude for previously sent issues of the journal “Brotherly Journal” and expressing support for the formation of the AUCECB, expressing the hope that unification of Evangelical Christians, Baptists, and Pentecostals might also be possible in Canada, and with an invitation to visit Canada
January 5, 1947. L. 127–127v. Typewritten copy
Letter from the secretary of the union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith in Uruguay A.S. Kuchura to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith with Evangelical Christians-Baptists
June 23, 1946. L. 181. Typewritten copy
FILE No. 20
RECORDS OF CONVERSATIONS OF STAFF OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE AFFAIRS OF RELIGIOUS CULTS UNDER THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE USSR WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF RELIGIOUS CULTS ORGANIZATIONS, BELIEVERS, FOREIGNERS (1947–1953)
Record of conversation of the head of the Council’s department N.V. Koltsov with the senior presbyter of the AUCECB for the Kiev region A.I. Mitskevich regarding the situation of ECB communities in the region, the activities of Pentecostal communities, and the return of a prayer building to the ECB society in the city of Kiev
September 15, 1951. L. 3–5. Original
Record of conversation of N.V. Koltsov with a member of the AUCECB I.G. Ivanov about the results of a trip to Transcarpathia (UkrSSR) and the relationships on the ground between Pentecostals and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
May 31, 1952. L. 23–24v. Autograph
Record of conversation of N.V. Koltsov with the senior presbyter of the AUCECB for the Stalin region B.A. Rusanov concerning believers’ attitude to military service and the “military question,” the activities of Pentecostal communities and Skoptsy in the region
November 14, 1952. L. 60–61v. Autograph
Record of conversation of N.V. Koltsov with a member of the AUCECB M.A. Orlov regarding the activities of Pentecostal communities in the Penza region and the Karelian ASSR (hereinafter — Kar.ASSR)
n.d.
L. 62. Autograph
Record of conversation of N.V. Koltsov with the senior presbyter of the AUCECB for the Dnepropetrovsk region (UkrSSR) N.N. Melnikov concerning the relationships within ECB communities between Pentecostals and Baptists, as well as between ECB communities and other religious associations in the region, and the order and rules of water baptism of young persons in ECB communities
September 1, 1953. L. 108–109v. Autograph
FILE No. 30
MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE AFFAIRS OF RELIGIOUS CULTS UNDER THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE USSR (1953)

Letter from I. Efimchuk (Argentina) to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
20 May 1946. L. 30-30ob. Typewritten copy

Letter from K. Leshchuk (Argentina) to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
21 May 1946. L. 31. Typewritten copy

Letter from K.M. Novik (Argentina) to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
4 June 1946. L. 33. Typewritten copy

Letter from A.G. Yavnyuk (Argentina) to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
5 June 1946. L. 34. Typewritten copy

Letter from the Secretary of the South American Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith, I.N. Vinnichenko, to Ya.I. Zhidkov regarding the attitude toward the unification of Evangelical Christians, Baptists, and Christians of the Evangelical Faith into a single union
26 June 1946. L. 37. Typewritten copy

Letters from E.D. Kharabora (Argentina) to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith with Evangelical Christians-Baptists
27, 28 August 1946. L. 39-41; 54-55. Typewritten copy
Letter (in two copies) from the Chairman of the All-Canadian Union of Evangelical Christians, I.K. Guk, to the AUCECB, in which he reports a negative attitude toward the unification of Evangelical Christians and Baptists with Pentecostals and requests a more detailed outline of the principles and conditions of this unification; he also informs about the transfer of funds to the AUCECB and proposes continuing the exchange of religious literature
18 February 1946. L. 112. Typewritten copy
Letter from the Secretary of the Russian Union of Baptists in Canada, P.P. Kolyada, to the AUCECB, approving the formation of the AUCECB, inviting a visit to America, and proposing an exchange of religious literature.
7 March 1946. L. 113. Typewritten copy
Letter from one of the Pentecostal leaders in Canada, P.L. Miyshchuk, to A.V. Karev, expressing gratitude for previously sent issues of the “Fraternal Journal” and support for the formation of the AUCECB; expressing hope that unification of Evangelical Christians, Baptists, and Pentecostals might also be possible in Canada, and extending an invitation to visit Canada
5 January 1947. L. 127-127ob. Typewritten copy
Letter from the Secretary of the union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith in Uruguay, A.S. Kuchura, to the AUCECB expressing support for the unification of Christians of the Evangelical Faith with Evangelical Christians-Baptists
23 June 1946. L. 181. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 20
RECORDS OF CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN OFFICIALS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS CULTS OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF RELIGIOUS CULT ORGANIZATIONS, BELIEVERS, AND FOREIGNERS (1947–1953)

Record of a conversation between the Head of the Council’s Department, N.V. Koltsov, and the AUCECB Senior Presbyter for the Kiev Region, A.I. Mitskevich, on the situation of ECB communities in the region, the activities of Pentecostal communities, and the return of a prayer building to the ECB society in the city of Kiev
/ 15 September 1951
L. 3-5. Original

Record of a conversation between N.V. Koltsov and AUCECB member I.G. Ivanov on the results of a trip to Transcarpathia (Ukrainian SSR) and the local relations between Pentecostals and Evangelical Christians-Baptists
31 May 1952. L. 23-24ob. Autograph

Record of a conversation between N.V. Koltsov and AUCECB Senior Presbyter for Stalin Region, B.A. Rusanov, on the attitude of believers toward military service and the “military question,” the activities of Pentecostal communities and Skoptsy in the region
14 November 1952. L. 60-61ob. Autograph

Record of a conversation between N.V. Koltsov and AUCECB member M.A. Orlov on the activities of Pentecostal communities in Penza Region and the Karelian ASSR (hereinafter – Kar. ASSR)
n.d.
L. 62. Autograph

Record of a conversation between N.V. Koltsov and AUCECB Senior Presbyter for Dnipropetrovsk Region (Ukrainian SSR), N.N. Melnikov, on the relations within ECB communities between Pentecostals and Baptists, as well as between ECB communities and other religious associations in the region; on the procedure and rules for water baptism of young persons in ECB communities
1 September 1953. L. 108-109ob. Autograph

FILE NO. 30
MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS CULTS OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (1953)

Minutes No. 3 of the Council meeting of 1 April 1953 on issues: closing of prayer buildings and their transfer to local authorities for use for other purposes; deregistration of Evangelical Lutheran, Karaite, Baptist, Pentecostal, Molokan, Jewish, and Muslim societies
L. 4-10. Original

FILE NO. 37
RECORDS OF CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN OFFICIALS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS CULTS OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND LEADERS OF RELIGIOUS CULT ORGANIZATIONS AND BELIEVERS OF THE USSR (1955)

Record of a reception by I.V. Polyansky of the AUCECB Senior Presbyter for the Byelorussian SSR (hereinafter – BSSR), V.N. Chechnev, on the state of affairs in ECB and CFE (Christians of Evangelical Faith) communities and on relations with local authorities
29 January 1955. L. 15. Original

FILE NO. 38
RECORDS OF RECEPTIONS OF MINISTERS OF CULTS AND BELIEVERS OF THE USSR (1955)

Record of a reception by I.V. Polyansky of the AUCECB Senior Presbyter for the Ukrainian SSR, A.L. Andreev, on the activities of ECB societies in Ukraine, their relations with Pentecostal societies, and the acquisition of a prayer house by the ECB society in Kiev
23 November 1955. L. 165-166. Original

FILE NO. 39
RECORDS OF RECEPTION OF MINISTERS OF CULTS AND BELIEVERS OF THE USSR (1955)

Record of a reception by N.V. Koltsov of the Bishop of Christians of the Evangelical Faith, A.I. Bidash, and M.P. Kapustina (Zaporozhye Region, Ukrainian SSR) on the activities of unregistered and registered Pentecostal societies and their attitude toward the AUCECB
26 December 1955. L. 5-6. Original

Record of a reception by I.V. Polyansky of members of the AUCECB Presidium on issues: visit to the USSR of representatives of US Baptist communities; the state of affairs in Pentecostal societies of the Ukrainian SSR and their attitude toward the AUCECB; relations between “the Twenty” and general meetings of believers in ECB societies
1 March 1955. L. 11-13. Original

FILE NO. 44
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1954–1955)

Letters from believers of the ECB society in Tula about registration and from the Senior Presbyter for Chernovtsy Region (Ukrainian SSR), Golik, on the progress of the reunification of ECB and CFE societies, sent by the AUCECB to the Council
17 February 1955
L. 161-164ob. Original. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 47
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1955)

Letter from the AUCECB Senior Presbyter for Lvov Region (Ukrainian SSR), V. Gritchenko, on the activities of Pentecostals in the region, sent by the AUCECB to the Council
23 July 1955. L. 61-62. Typewritten copy

Appeal (and draft) of the AUCECB to all ECB societies in the USSR on the occasion of celebrating Unity Day
1 September 1955. L. 73-75, 87-90. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 50
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1955)

Letter from M.S. But to A.L. Andreev concerning the attitude of CFE societies to the August Agreement (1945) on the unification of ECB and CFE societies into a single union
2 December 1955. L. 73-73ob. Typewritten copy
Letter from the editor of the journal “Pentecost,” D. Gee (Great Britain), to “Editors of all Pentecostal journals” with information about the journal and a proposal for cooperation
1 September 1955. L. 117-118. Typewritten copy. Translation

FILE NO. 56
RECORDS OF CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN OFFICIALS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS CULTS OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND LEADERS OF RELIGIOUS CULT ORGANIZATIONS AND BELIEVERS OF THE USSR (1956)

Record of a reception by N.V. Koltsov of A.Z. Vychikov on the relations between believers of Pentecostal associations and associations of Evangelical Christians-Baptists in societies of the city of Kirovograd (Ukrainian SSR)
n.d.
L. 69. Original

Record of a reception by I.V. Polyansky in Riga (Latvian SSR) of the Senior Presbyter for the Baltic states, N.A. Levindanto, on the situation in ECB societies in the Baltic region, registration of the ECB society in the Lithuanian SSR (Lit. SSR), and relations between believers of CFE and ECB in ECB societies in the Baltic region
9 March 1956. L. 111-112. Original

Record of a reception by I.V. Polyansky of Ya.I. Zhidkov, with information on the results of a trip by a Swedish Baptist delegation throughout the USSR, on the relations within AUCECB societies between believers of CFE and ECB, and on the appointment of senior presbyters
6 April 1956. L. 116-118. Original

Record of a reception by N.V. Koltsov of Presbyter S.I. Marin on the activities of Pentecostal associations
12 May 1954. L. 164. Original

Record of a reception by N.V. Koltsov of the AUCECB Senior Presbyter for Kiev Region, A.I. Mitskevich, with information on the situation and activities of CFE in Stalin Region (Ukrainian SSR)
21 May 1956. L. 171. Original

FILE NO. 58
RECORDS OF CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN OFFICIALS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS CULTS OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND LEADERS OF CULT ORGANIZATIONS AND BELIEVERS OF THE USSR (1956)

Record of a reception by N.V. Koltsov of A.G. Kurkosenko on the registration of a CFE society in Simferopol, Crimean Region (Ukrainian SSR)
22 October 1956. L. 43. Original

Record of a reception by Council member P.A. Zadorozhny of a delegation of CFE believers headed by A.I. Bidash on the re-establishment of an all-union center of CFE and the registration of independent CFE societies
24 October 1956. L. 52-56. Original

Record of a reception by the Acting Chairman of the Council, V.I. Gostev, of Bishop A.I. Bidash on the re-establishment of an all-union CFE center
25 October 1956. L. 64-67. Original

Record of a reception by V.I. Gostev of Ya.I. Zhidkov and A.V. Karev on the relations between ECB and CFE believers in registered AUCECB societies
29 October 1956. L. 75-76. Original

Record of a reception by N.V. Koltsov of the Presbyter of the CFE society in Minsk, A.P. Kasperovich, on the registration of a CFE society in Odessa (Ukrainian SSR)
5 November 1956. L. 93. Original

Record of a reception by P.A. Zadorozhny of a delegation of CFE believers headed by A.I. Bidash on the restoration of an all-union CFE center
12 November 1956. L. 100-101. Original

Record of a reception by N.V. Koltsov of the Senior Presbyter for Khmelnitsky Region (Ukrainian SSR), E.A. Mazin, with a report on relations between ECB and CFE believers
18 December 1956. L. 149. Original

Record of a reception by Council Inspector V.D. Efremov of A.I. Mitskevich on the convocation of a plenum of the AUCECB Presidium and the holding of a meeting of the AUCECB leadership with representatives of CFE societies; with an attached plenum program.
14 September 1956. L. 204-206. Original. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 61
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1956)

Letter from former members of the Union of CFE, G.G. Ponurko and M.S. But, to A.L. Andreev, approving the August Agreement (1945) on the unification of CFE and ECB
7 December 1955. L. 23-25. Typewritten copy
Appeal by G.G. Ponurko and M.S. But to CFE believers who did not join the united ECB union, urging them to enter the AUCECB
10 January 1956. L. 26-28. Typewritten copy

A Christmas greeting letter from the Assistant Senior Presbyter for the Ukrainian SSR, D.I. Ponomarchuk, to the President of the American Baptist Convention, V.K. Hargroves, with information about the accession of some CFE societies to the AUCECB
5 January 1956. L. 47. Typewritten copy

Letter from P. Stremoukhov (Finland) to Ya.I. Zhidkov and A.V. Karev requesting assistance in organizing a trip to the USSR for R. Jacob, a member of a CFE society in Kirkebone (India)
31 March 1956. L. 181. Typewritten copy. Translation
Letter from I.K. Panko to Ya.I. Zhidkov, reporting on personal circumstances and his attitude toward the unification of CFE with ECB
18 March 1956. L. 185-186. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 62
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1956)

Report on a trip by D.I. Ponomarchuk to the town of Obukhovo, Kiev Region (Ukrainian SSR), regarding relations within a society of CFE and ECB believers
14 July 1956. L. 20. Original

Letter from B.A. Rusanov to Ya.I. Zhidkov and A.V. Karev, with information on the situation of ECB societies in Stalin Region and the progress of the unification of ECB and CFE; with attached documents characterizing the religious situation in the region
17 July 1956. L. 129-140. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 63
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1955–1956)

Information from B.A. Rusanov to Ya.I. Zhidkov on the relations between ECB and CFE believers in societies on the territory of Stalin Region (Ukrainian SSR); with attached financial report for May 1956
12 June 1956. L. 109-123. Typewritten copy
Statement by A.I. Bidash to A.L. Andreev supporting the August Agreement (1945) on the unification of ECB and CFE; with an attached message to the AUCECB (17 March 1948) on behalf of the former leadership of the CFE union
2 June 1956. L. 153-157. Typewritten copy
Report by A.I. Mitskevich on a trip to Stalin Region (Ukrainian SSR); with attached materials on the nature of relations between ECB and CFE believers in societies of the region
February 1956. L. 188-212ob. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 64
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1956)

Documents and materials sent by the AUCECB to the Council: a letter from believers on the registration of an ECB society in the village of Lipyagi (Balashov Region); a letter from Motorin on the situation in the ECB society in Voronezh; a letter from N.N. Melnik on the activities of the leader of unregistered CFE societies, A.I. Bidash, in Dnipropetrovsk Region (Ukrainian SSR); a letter from G.G. Ponurko and M.S. But on the conditions for the unification of CFE and ECB; a letter from the Senior Presbyter for Minsk Region (BSSR), Ivanchenko, on the situation in the ECB society in Minsk
16 August 1956. L. 93-100. Original. Typewritten copy
Letter from G.G. Ponurko and M.S. But (Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR) to Ya.I. Zhidkov on the unification of CFE and ECB believers
n.d.
L. 145-148. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 65
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1956)

Report from CFE Presbyter F.I. Kononenko on the unification of CFE and ECB believers in Frunze, Kirghiz SSR (Kir. SSR)
7 September 1956. L. 26-28. Typewritten copy
Letter from N.A. Yadykin and S.I. Marin to Ya.I. Zhidkov reporting on the unification of CFE and ECB believers in Frunze (Kir. SSR)
12 September 1956. L. 29-32. Typewritten copy
Letter from N.A. Yadykin and S.I. Marin to Ya.I. Zhidkov reporting on the unification of CFE and ECB believers in Tokmak (Kir. SSR)
n.d.
L. 40-54. Typewritten copy

Letter from A.I. Bidash and others to the AUCECB requesting amendments to the text of the August Agreement (1945) on the unification of CFE and ECB
19 October 1956. L. 74-75. Original

Draft Appeal of the participants of the meeting at the AUCECB to the ECB and CFE societies in the Ukrainian SSR that have not joined the AUCECB, and information on the work done to unify CFE and ECB believers
October 1956. L. 86-92. Typewritten copy

Copy of the August Agreement (1945) on the unification of CFE and ECB into a single union
27 August 1945. L. 121-123. Typewritten copy
Letter from the AUCECB Senior Presbyter for Dnipropetrovsk Region (Ukrainian SSR), N.N. Melnikov, to the AUCECB reporting on the activities of A.I. Bidash
9 February 1956. L. 150-153. Typewritten copy
Documents and materials of the AUCECB meeting on problems of the activities of CFE societies and the process of unification of CFE and ECB
September–November 1956. L. 154-166; 189-194. Typewritten copy
Letter from A.I. Mitskevich to the AUCECB with information on a trip to Stalin Region (Ukrainian SSR), reporting on relations between CFE and ECB believers
11 February 1956. L. 167-184ob. Typewritten copy
Letter from CFE Presbyter S.I. Marin to Ya.I. Zhidkov reporting on the situation of CFE believers and the relations between ECB and CFE societies in the Ukrainian SSR
9 May 1956. L. 186-188. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 66
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1956)

Letter from representatives of CFE believers and societies (A.I. Bidash and others) to the Council requesting the restoration of an all-union CFE center; with attached documents and materials on the situation of CFE communities in the USSR
22 October 1956. L. 1-26. Typewritten copy

Letter from the Senior Presbyter for Vinnitsa Region (Ukrainian SSR), Lisovenko, to A.L. Andreev with information on the work to unify CFE and ECB communities
10 July 1956. L. 27-27ob. Typewritten copy
Letter from L. Panko to Ya.I. Zhidkov expressing his attitude toward the August Agreement (1945) and the nature of the relations that have developed in AUCECB communities between CFE and ECB believers
26 September 1956.
L. 32-34. Typewritten copy

Record of a reception by P.A. Zadorozhny of a delegation of Christians of the Evangelical Faith headed by Bishop A.I. Bidash on the re-establishment of an all-union Pentecostal center
24 October 1956. L. 52-56. Original

Letter from N.A. Yadykin to the AUCECB on the relations between ECB and CFE believers
7 September 1956. L. 146-148. Typewritten copy

Letter from B.A. Rusanov to Ya.I. Zhidkov reporting on the situation in the region’s ECB societies and relations between CFE and ECB believers; with attached financial reports
7 September 1956. L. 149-152. Typewritten copy
Letters from A.M. Galenko to Ya.I. Zhidkov on the situation in the AUCECB community in the town of Pyatikhatka, Dnipropetrovsk Region (Ukrainian SSR)
6 September 1956. L. 153-155. Typewritten copy
Extract from a letter from A.M. Galenko to Ya.I. Zhidkov reporting on the activities of Christians of the Evangelical Faith in the territory of Dnipropetrovsk Region (Ukrainian SSR)
1956
L. 171. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 74
RECORDS OF CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN OFFICIALS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS CULTS OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND LEADERS OF RELIGIOUS CULT ORGANIZATIONS AND BELIEVERS OF THE USSR (1957)

Record of a reception by V.I. Gostev of A.L. Andreev with information on the situation and activities of ECB societies in Ukraine and the nature of relations between ECB and CFE believers
23 April 1957. L. 137-138. Original

FILE NO. 80
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1956–1957)

Letter from the leaders of CFE societies addressed to the Chairman of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet, K.E. Voroshilov, requesting the registration of CFE societies separately from ECB societies and the AUCECB; with attached materials on CFE societies in the USSR
16 November 1956. L. 11-18. Typewritten copy
Letter from Presbyter A.P. Kasperovich (BSSR) to Ya.I. Zhidkov on the unification of ECB and CFE societies
11 January 1957. L. 23-25. Typewritten copy

Letter from the AUCECB Senior Presbyter for the Kazakh SSR (hereinafter – Kaz. SSR), N.D. Tikhonov, and AUCECB representative S.I. Marin to Ya.I. Zhidkov reporting on the work to unify ECB and CFE societies in the Kaz. SSR
27 December 1956. L. 27-39. Typewritten copy
Letter from the AUCECB Senior Presbyter for Dnipropetrovsk Region (Ukrainian SSR), N.K. Akritov, to the AUCECB reporting on the work to unify ECB and CFE societies in the region
18 December 1956. L. 40-43. Typewritten copy
Appeal of the Assistant Senior Presbyters of the AUCECB for Dnipropetrovsk Region (Ukrainian SSR), G.G. Ponurko and M.S. But, to the communities of Evangelical Christians-Baptists and Christians of the Evangelical Faith, condemning the activities of A.I. Bidash
18 December 1956. L. 44-45. Typewritten copy

Letters from A.K. Kasperovich to the AUCECB reporting on his work and the situation in CFE societies
25, 26 January 1957. L. 46-53. Typewritten copy
Notes of a meeting of the AUCECB Presidium with the participation of representatives of CFE societies on the unification of ECB and CFE
January 1957. L. 56-67. Typewritten copy
Report by A.I. Mitskevich on a trip to Minsk (BSSR)
15 February 1957. L. 68-74. Original

Information from M.A. Orlov on the accession of CFE believers to the ECB society in Leningrad; with attached minutes of a meeting of representatives of ECB and CFE societies of the city of Leningrad and Leningrad Region
n.d.
L. 196-202. Original

FILE NO. 81
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1957)

Letter from I.K. Panko to Ya.I. Zhidkov on the activities of CFE societies and the formation of a CFE union
27 May 1957. L. 15-18. Typewritten copy
Report and other materials from S.I. Marin on the process of unifying ECB and CFE societies in Oryol, Stalin, Saratov, and Astrakhan regions
21 August 1957. L. 38-57. Original. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 94
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1957–1958)

Information from A.L. Andreev on a colloquy with former leaders of the CFE union
May 1958. L. 66-80. Typewritten copy
Report by the Assistant General Secretary of the AUCECB, A.I. Mitskevich, on a meeting in Oryol with representatives of CFE societies
July 1958. L. 81-84. Original

FILE NO. 105
MATERIALS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (1959)

Letter from the AUCECB to the Council requesting permission to hold a meeting in Moscow in August 1959 dedicated to the results of the work “to unify CFE-Pentecostals with the ECB brotherhood”
7 August 1959. L. 1. Original

FILE NO. 123
CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE STATE COMMITTEE OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ON LABOR AND WAGES, THE CENTRAL STATISTICAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE USSR, AND THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OF THE RSFSR ON CHANGES IN LEGISLATION ON CULTS, THE PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION OF RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS, PRAYER BUILDINGS, CHURCH PROPERTY, AND OTHER ISSUES (1961)

Letter from the Chairman of the Council for Religious Cults, A.A. Puzin, and the Chairman of the Council for the Russian Orthodox Church, V.A. Kuroyedov, to the Central Statistical Administration of the USSR Council of Ministers with information on conducting a one-time registration in 1961 of religious associations, prayer buildings, and property in the use of religious associations; with attached registration documentation and instructions for conducting the one-time registration, as well as the response from the CSA
15 May, 5 June 1961. L. 5-14, 23. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 160
MATERIALS ON THE FOREIGN CONTACTS OF THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS (reports, memoranda, correspondence) (1964)

Letter from the AUCECB to the Council on sending an AUCECB delegation to the 7th World Pentecostal Conference
26 March 1964. L. 36-37

Record of a conversation between AUCECB members and a group of Pentecostals from the USA on the situation of religion in the USSR and the relationship between the state and religious organizations
n.d.
L. 50-51. Original

FILE NO. 168
MINUTES NOS. 1–5 OF MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS CULTS OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND MATERIALS FOR THEM (1965)

Minutes No. 3 of the Council meeting of 17–18 February 1965 on issues: discussion of the report by A.A. Puzin “On Certain Facts of Violation of Socialist Legality Regarding Believers” and reports by Council commissioners on the implementation of the recommendations of the All-Union Conference of Commissioners (July 1964) on eliminating administrative excesses against believers and religious associations; with attached materials
L. 25-57. Original. Typewritten copy

Minutes No. 5 of the Council meeting of 17–18 March 1965, with discussion of the report by A.A. Puzin “On Religious Sectarianism”; with attached transcript
L. 67-209. Original. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 169
MINUTES NOS. 6–27 OF MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS CULTS OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND MATERIALS FOR THEM. MINUTES NOS. 1–2 OF MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS CULTS OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND MATERIALS FOR THEM (1965–1966)

Minutes No. 6 of the Council meeting of 27 March 1965 on issues: consideration of a draft memorandum on sectarian religious associations operating on the territory of the USSR, prepared at the request of A.I. Mikoyan; information for commissioners on the results of the Council meeting regarding the activities of sectarian religious associations
L. 1. Original

Minutes No. 12 of the Council meeting of 16 June 1965 on issues: report by A.A. Puzin on the implementation of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 27 January 1965 “On Certain Facts of Violation of Socialist Legality Regarding Believers”; report on the work of the Council commissioner for Grodno Region (BSSR); international contacts of the Central Spiritual Administration of Buddhists of the USSR; preparation of the photo exhibition “Life of Muslims in Central Asia”; holding of jubilee events in connection with the 10th anniversary of the enthronement of Catholicos Vazgen I; registration of a Baptist society; with attached materials
L. 62-67. Original. Typewritten copy

Minutes No. 21 of the Council meeting of 16 October 1965 on issues: approval of the Council’s Clarification “On the Registration of Religious Cults”; publication of religious literature; registration of Baptist and Catholic societies; demolition of an Old Believer cult building; with attached materials
L. 137-152. Original. Typewritten copy

Minutes No. 23 of the Council meeting of 26 October 1965 on issues: approval of the Council’s materials on combating the illegal activities of sectarian religious associations; changing the procedure for registering religious associations and amending the Council’s Instruction on the Application of Legislation on Religious Cults; response to incoming appeals from believers; with attached materials
L. 155-165. Original. Typewritten copy

Minutes No. 24 of the Council meeting of 12–13 November 1965 on issues: discussion of the report by A.A. Puzin “On Measures to Combat the Illegal Activities of Sectarian Religious Associations”; publication of religious literature; trip of a pilgrimage group to Saudi Arabia; formation of an all-union Muslim center; results of a business trip by Council Inspector A.V. Rumyantsev to the Kaz. SSR; registration of Baptist and Muslim societies; transfer of a Catholic cult building to local authorities for use for other purposes; with attached materials
L. 166-192. Original. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 170
CIRCULAR-INSTRUCTIONAL LETTERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS CULTS OF THE USSR COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO COMMISSIONERS (1965)

Draft letter from the Council to commissioners with information on the introduction of card-based registration of religious associations; with attached distribution schedule for sending card forms
n.d.
L. 2-11. Typewritten copy

Letter from the Council (in two copies) to commissioners requesting that they send information on the implementation of the Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet “On Certain Facts of Violation of Socialist Legality Regarding Believers”
22 June, 1 September 1965. L. 14a,b. 20-25. Typewritten copy

FILE NO. 173
MATERIALS ON CONVICTED AND EXILED BELIEVERS IN 1961–1965 (memoranda, sentences, complaints, correspondence) (1965)

Letter from the Council to the USSR Prosecutor’s Office with information about letters received by the Council from believers (CFE and True Orthodox Christians) from Krasnoyarsk Krai complaining of unlawful actions by local authorities and judicial bodies; with attached materials and the response of the Prosecutor’s Office
27 September, 27 December 1965. L. 77-82, 278. Original. Typewritten copy
Letter from the Council to the Prosecutor’s Office of the RSFSR clarifying the procedure for registering religious societies; with attached request from the prosecutor’s office
9 November 1965. L. 90, 91. Typewritten copy. Original

List of persons (in two copies) convicted under Articles 142, 143, and 227 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR (and analogous articles in the republics of the USSR) and exiled under the Decree on Parasites in 1961–1965
August 1965
L. 111-174, 201-265. Typewritten copy. Original
Memorandum (in two copies

M.M. Tveritin

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