Police Measures against the Split in the Russian Orthodox Church during the Reign of Nicholas I (1825–1855)

Introduction. The measures of police authorities for suppression and non-proliferation of influence of split in the Russian orthodox world are under consideration. The focus is made on the peculiarities of religious policy conducted by Nicholas I within the framework of the course proclaimed in the country, which entered into history under the name «theory of official nationality». Materials, Results and Discussion. Contrary to the opinion of the domestic historiography, the period from 1825 to 1855 was not so unambiguous. On the one hand, there were repressive measures, police supervision and prosecution of splitters, on the other — in many regions, there were often relations between old-believers and secular power, church and orthodox society «acceptable» from the point of view of liberal-minded representatives of state authorities. Since the 1830s, in the course of the codified «regularization» of Russian law, the legislation on old-believers was brought into line. At the same time, a more thorough study of Old Belief as a socio-political and religious phenomenon was initiated. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, provincial authorities and local police bodies investigated various aspects of the Old Belief community, formed statistical data, which allowed the Crown to have a sufficiently objective picture of the state of the Old Belief and conduct more «adjusted» policy concerning it. Conclusions. The authors reveal the features and main areas of religious policy conducted by Nicholas I, give the legislative basis which allowed the police to administer their professional functions with regard to the split.