ABSTRACT
In May 1968, a few months before Soviet tanks would roll down the streets of Prague, another kind of Soviet authority would be sent in, namely emissaries of the Russian Orthodox Church. In May 1968, Metropolitan Filaret, then head of the Ukrainian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, wrote a report to Communist Party officials in Ukraine about disturbing developments taking place within the Russian Orthodox Church of socialist Czechoslovakia. Based on his conversations with Czechoslovak church leadership, Filaret wrote:
On April 2nd, Metropolitan Dorotej [Arch-Episcope of Prague, Metropolitan of Czech Lands and Slovakia] was invited by Doctor Kadlicova [plenipotentiary for religion] to re-open the Uniate question. On April 5th they met again… Dr. Kadlicova made it clear that the Russian Orthodox Church in Czechoslovakia cannot endure [rasschityvat’] without the support of the government. At the same, time Dr. Kadlicova suggested forming a mixed committee of Orthodox and Uniates… The Uniates have begun to demand the Orthodox Church return to them Uniate churches. In Czechoslovakia, these churches belong to the communities, and not the government…A deputy of the National Chamber of the People], A. Zhiak, friendly towards the Soviet Union and the Russian Orthodox Church, openly stated that the Uniates had been liquidated violently during the period of the Cult of Personality, and thus deputies had no right to be against the freedom of the Uniates. In his view, Uniates will return to Czechoslovakia. 3
