Activities of the Orthodox Clergy of the Voronezh Diocese in the Occupied Territories During the Great Patriotic War

The article, based on unpublished sources, examines the service of the clergy of the Voronezh diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church during the Great Patriotic War in the occupied territories. It is known that by the time the war began, only two parishes were operating in the Voronezh region. After the outbreak of hostilities, according to various estimates, from 60 to 100 churches and houses of worship were opened in the territories occupied by the Nazi invaders. Many clergy, who had previously been on staff and worked in secular jobs, began to perform divine services again. As a result, liturgical life became quite active. At the same time, during the service, the clergy offered prayers for Russian power and victory in Germany, sometimes taking advantage of the fact that the invaders who were stationed in a particular locality did not understand the Church Slavonic language. After the war, many of the open churches continued their activities.