Antireligious persecutions (1958–1964) in the Leningrad diocese and the opposition of metropolitan Nicodim (Rotov) to them

In 1958–1964 the Russian Orthodox Church has undergone the last wave of antireligious persecutions from the Soviet authorities. During this period there was a sharp reduction of quantity of church and monasteries, liquidation of spiritual educational institutions, pressure upon various categories of believers was carried out, up to a full ban some of them to visit temples, etc. One of the main dioceses of Russian Orthodox Church — Leningrad — has endured especially strong antireligious persecutions, and has helped to stand her on finishing, the cruellest stage of persecutions skillful and courageous policy of the metropolitan Nicodim (Rotov). He has saved the Leningrad Spiritual Academy from closing, has stopped liquidation of the operating churches to dioceses and exile from temples of priests. Eventually antireligious persecutions have got beaten also in country scales, and the significant contribution to it was also made by the metropolitan Nicodim.