Soviet government religious policy regarding to renovative associations in the North Caucasus in 1917-1946

In this article, basing on archival materials and the research literature, the authors analyzed the characteristics of the religious policy of the Soviet power in the North Caucasus in 1917-1946 years regarding the renovative associations. The various definitions of the concept of «renovationism» were studied and the own wording were appeared to achieve this goal. According to new concept, the Renovationism is difficult phenomenon, developing under the influence of the processes, having various nature: inside-church processes due to the growth of democratic sentiment among the clergy and policy processes, initiated by the Soviet power to conduct their own religious course. The theoretical basis of this article advocates a synthesis of two modeling methods. Basing on these methods, it is proved that the revolution of 1917 led to the creation of a new separation model of the church-state relations, basing on the principle of gradual elimination of the religious organizations' influence in the public life. The activity of Renovationist Synod of the North Caucasus were assessed; the dynamics of the beginning a new dioceses in various parts of the region were analyzed; the changes in the conduct of worship were discussed. It is concluded that the supporting of the Renovationism was an important part of religious policy during the 20's - early 30-ies XX century. The cooperation of local governments with the hierarchs of the new church structure had a longer duration of time than in the central areas of the country. This situation was explained largely by the low success of atheistic propaganda, the preservation of the religious consciousness on the part of party functionaries. At the same time the abolition of renovationist organizations in the North Caucasus (as well as in other areas of the country) was caused by a common factor, the change in the line of the Stalin's religious course in the direction of the elevation of the Russian Orthodox Church in order to use its authority on the world stage.