Subbotin V. Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the UkrSSR in terms of atheistic propaganda of Soviet rule (mid-1960 – the first half of 1980)

Object: Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) as an influential social institution in western regions of Ukraine. Objective: to analyze the peculiarities of the UGCC functioning in the Ukrainian SSR in the context of social and political processes of the second half of the 60's – early 80's of XX century. Methods: deduction, induction, generalization and systematization of similar facts, comparative analysis, system functional. Results: for the first time comprehensively researched policy of Soviet authorities on the UGCC in the 60's – 80's of XX century, showed its repressive nature, reflected the legal status of the UGCC after the Lviv pseudosynod 1946, formed the social-age and educational portrait of believer on the materials of empirical sociological research, on the examples illustrate the sacrifice of the believers and their selfless struggle for the revival of the UGCC activity in the western regions of the Ukrainian SSR, refuted a number of myths that lie Soviet propaganda on the establishment of "mass atheism" in the Western Ukraine, improved personal motivation of the clergy and believers acts under government repression in the second half of the twentieth century, study of biographies of famous public figures involved in the clandestine activities of the UGCC, separate fragments of biography of underground Greek Catholic clergy, the legal base of the leading Ukrainian churches functioning in Western Ukraine in the study period. Scope of application: for writing of generalizing scientific works on modern history of Ukraine, during the preparation of teaching aids, educational programs and special courses, in activities of universities and local institutions of the government for improving of public policy in the church and the religious sphere, preserving of confessional tolerance, ensuring of implementation of the Law of Ukraine "On freedom of conscience and religious organizations".