Abstract

The article deals with one of the actual issues of church-state relations in the twentieth century – resistance of Sumy Orthodox population against antireligious policy in 1920 – 30’s in the USSR. Thus, as the territory of modern Sumy region in the studied period was the part of Kharkiv, Poltava and Chernihiv regions, the results of this study represent a situation in north-eastern region of Ukraine. The study analyzes the source base and historiography of the problem. It is noted that the problem is reflected both at the national and foreign historiography. Resistance of Orthodox population of region against seizure of church property is studied. It is pointed to continuous struggle, which begins precisely in 1922. The radicalization of methods of resistance against antireligious policy in Sumy region in 1929 – 1930 is considered. The examples are the rebellions in the villages of Beryuhovo and Blystiv. The reasons of radicalization and resistance calm in 1930 – 1935 are defined. Women riots and so-called volinky as a manifestation of resistance against antireligious policy are analyzed. The characteristic of period of growing cases of radical forms of resistance in 1935 – 1937 is given. However the continuity of this movement in Sumy region during the period of 1920 – 1930’s is tracked and identified.