Instructions on the Work of the Council for Russian Orthodox Church Affairs, September 4, 1943

Source: Tom 18

The Council for Russian Orthodox Church Affairs under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR is established with the following tasks:

1. To maintain liaison between the government of the USSR and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia on matters requiring the government's decision.

2. To prepare drafts of legislation and resolutions on matters relating to the Russian Orthodox Church and to present them for consideration by the Council of People's Commissars.

3. To exercise supervision over the correct and timely implementation of laws and resolutions of the government of the USSR relating to the Russian Orthodox Church throughout the territory of the USSR.

The Chairman of the Council shall have the right to make a preliminary examination of any matters raised by the Patriarch and to give him appropriate explanations.

Note

The creation of the Council was the practical result of Stalin's historic meeting with the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church on the night of September 4-5, 1943. At this meeting, Stalin agreed to the convening of a Church Council, the election of a Patriarch, the opening of theological schools, the publication of a church journal, and the reopening of churches. This constituted a dramatic reversal of the anti-religious policies of the preceding two decades.