The growth of eschatological and apocalyptic sentiments among the population of Eastern Podillia in the 1920s

Abstract

This article reveals the main manifestations of eschatological and apocalyptic sentiments among the population of Eastern Podillia in the 1920s. The anticipation of the approach of «the last days» has always been a rather characteristic feature of the life of the Orthodox population. Themes of the «the end of the world», the Last Judgment, the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven are an important part of Christian beliefs. They become especially relevant in the times of persecution of Christians, deteriorating economic and political situation, the emergence of various natural disasters. On the territory of Podillia in the 1920s. the communist government pursued an anti-religious policy, persecuted church people, and dramatically changed the way of life.

Appropriate actions were the impetus for the strengthening of eschatological sentiments among the inhabitants of the region, the arrival of Soviet power began to be perceived as the implementation of apocalyptic events. The part of the faithful was convinced of the imminent coming of the Last Judgment and the punishment of ungodly communists, persecutors of the church.

The article analyzes the eschatological sentiments of the Orthodox population, mainly adherents of the Old Church Slavonic. The strengthening of such sentiments was associated with the general religious movement in Podillia in the early 1920’s. The information about the so-called miracles was especially actively spread: the renewal of icons, the appearance of crosses, the appearance of saints. The most famous among them were the Kalinov Cross and the apparition of the Mother of God in the Jehoshaphat Valley. Thousands of believers began to visit places of miracles, and during such pilgrimages apocalyptic prophecies became more and more relevant. There were various stories, legends, stories, songs about the imminent coming of the «end of the world» and the coming of the Antichrist. In this way, the population of the region reacted to the strengthening of atheistic policies. In addition to popular ideas, there have been attempts to interpret socialism as an anti-Christian government based on the church-theological tradition.