Православные монастыри в Литве: советский период истории

ENThe article analyzes the policies of the Soviet authorities in regard to the Orthodox monasteries in the Lithuanian SSR in 1944-1990. The aim is to answer the questions: what protected them from destruction (when all the Catholic monasteries were closed already in 1948-1949), how did the attitude of the officials of the Soviet Union and the Lithuanian SSR towards the activities of the Orthodox monasteries differ. In 1944-1990 two Orthodox monasteries – the Holy Spirit for men and the Mary Magdalene for women were active in Vilnius, as well as the unique monastic community in Mikniškės 30 km from Vilnius. The latter operated during the Soviet era as an agricultural artel. The Orthodox monasteries survived thanks to the government of the USSR, because after the war they used the privileges provided by the laws: they kept their property and were exempt from taxes (that ruined the church institutions of other denominations). In addition, the Moscow Patriarchate gave large sums for the construction and repair of their churches and buildings. In 1958 when the USSR began the campaign of closing Orthodox monasteries, the Vilnius nunnery was officially closed, but in fact it continues to function - sisters were housed in a separate building in the territory of the men's monastery (1960). Despite the prohibitions and barriers, the men's and women's monasteries were able to take in new members. The government of the Lithuanian SSR did not hide its dissatisfaction with the existence of the Orthodox monasteries, constantly demanded that they be closed or at least moved from Vilnius. However, after the failed attempt on his own initiative to close the men's monastery in 1948 the government avoided making any independent actions.When only a few monasteries remained active in the Soviet Union, the Holy Spirit monastery was an important religious and spiritual life center for the Orthodox, visited by pilgrims. It prepared clergy and the funds received by the monastery allowed to resolve the financial problems of the Orthodox Diocese of Lithuania.