Latvian Old-beliviers in the soviet time
Soviet laws and also restructurings in the economy and society led to a gradual diminishing of the number of practising Old Believers and the closure of prayer-houses, especially in rural locations. Thorough collectivisation, which had destroyed the earlier way of life, and migration from rural areas led to the ruin of traditional Old Believer communities. The number of communities was reduced by a third during the years of Soviet rule, their activities being limited to religious matters. >>