Old Believer chapels and prayer rooms in the 19th – early 20th centuries (based on the materials of the Olonets diocese)

The article examines the patterns of creation and functioning of the Old Believers main centres – chapels and prayer rooms. It was revealed that the appearance and arrangement of Old Believer churches changed under the influence of the repressive policy of the Russian state in the religious field. For the 18th century chapels often in the “joint use” of Old Believers and representatives of the dominant Church were more typical. The persecutions, which began in the 19th century, led to a noticeable transformation of Old Believer churches and the emergence of prayer houses. Their appearance contributed to a greater extent to the secretive conduct of divine services and the secret implementation of church requirements in the difficult situation that had arisen. The persecution of Old Believers and the identification and liquidation of their prayer rooms were carried out through the coordinated efforts of the police and local clergy.