RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN SHIDA KARTLI REGION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

In 1921, after the Russian occupation of Georgia, the country faced very severe repression. The Bolshevik terror touched all the sphere of society. They expressed the roughest attitude towards the Christian belief, which was viewed in closing the churches, and also – moral and physical annihilation of ecclesiastic people. The Orthodox churches were pitilessly robbed. The violence towards the Christian church is clearly seen on the example of Shida Kartli, where number of churches were closed. The church property, after being checked by the representatives of the local executive power, was handed to the treasury. According to the decision made by the government, the things of a special historical value were sent to the museum. The Armenian and Catholic churches experienced the same repression. The Bolsheviks closed the Jewish synagogues too.