Episcopal ministry in the context of the decisions of the 1917-1918 local council and anti-religious policy of the Soviet government

The article analyzes the published proceedings of the 1917-1918 Local Council, conciliar definitions and results of its work in the new political realities and conditions of anti-religious policy. The acts of the Council reflect the multi-day discussions accompanied sometimes by heated discussions in the process of drafting and adopting the conciliar decisions, as well as the confrontation of ideological stances and the struggle of groups when discussing issues of higher ecclesiastical and diocesan administration, the legal status of the Russian Orthodox Church, the directions and prospects of State - Church relations. The responsibility for the conformity of the conciliar definitions to the canons, dogmas and church tradition and then for implementation of the decisions of the Local Council in life fell on the episcopate. The Conference of Bishops was formed of the episcopate. The hierarchs were also supposed to be the members of the Supreme Church Council. Numerous historical sources provide convincing evidence that in the 1920s-1930s episcopal ministry became a feat in the name of God for the protection of the Church Laws and ensuring the unity and the very fact of the existence of the Church.