The soviet power’s fight against Orthodox pilgrimage to «Sacred sites» in the 1950-1970s USSR (based on materials of the Penza region)

The aim of the essay is to characterize Russian Orthodox “sacred sites” of Penza region (22 all-union “sacred springs” and some local “holy wells”). Not only local believers, but also people from surrounding areas and republics took part in pilgrimage to Penza “sacred sites”. The author analyzes political methods of termination of the pilgrimage to the Russian Orthodox “holy places”, such as discussions with the clergy and believers, prosecution of pilgrims and organizers of pilgrimages, activation of scientific atheism, usage of “holy places” for economic needs, location of reservoirs or cultivated plants on the territory of “sacred sites”, closing of springs, etc. The author describes the adoption of appropriate measures on regional level through the representative of the Council for Russian Orthodox Church (religions) Matters in Penza region.