George Matulaitis Journal

240 to move in here without their knowledge and approval. As more and more people gathered, I asked them to remain calm. After some time, the people said that they wanted to confer with me. I went out to them and explained what had happened. I advised them to send representatives to the Bolshevik authorities. At my request, the people began to disperse. As soon as they had gone away, the selfsame Bolsheviks came roaring in by car. Once again I asked them to find living quarters somewhere else so as not to antagonize the people. I added: “While we are standing here talking, the people will most likely start coming back again, because I know that certain persons are keeping an eye on my house and will not let you stay here.” And, in fact, a crowd of people began to gather once more. The Bolsheviks left without gaining anything. They tried to get into the house a third time that afternoon, but when the people again began to gather, they finally left and did not return that day. They were angry and had told my cook and servants: “We’ll have our own way here, and in any case, your ‘popas’ 1 won’t be here very long.” That same day the Bolsheviks passed a decree 2 completely abolishing religious education in the schools. The priests were forbidden to set foot in the schools even to teach secular subjects. In those educational institutions that had received financial support from the Bolsheviks, the priests were not given last month’s salary either for teaching religion or any other subject. The people, enraged by the attempt to evict the bishop from his house, threatened to go on strike and stop the railroad and the electric plant. They discussed the possibility of collecting signatures and sending delegates to the Bolshevik authorities. Once again I put my papers in order and assigned someone to administer the diocese in case the Bolsheviks arrested me. I was prepared for the eventuality that I may be imprisoned. The Bolsheviks who had come to the house would not give their names even when I asked them. 1 Russian slang for Orthodox priest. 2 The Decree on Education was issued on March 24th, making grammar school education compulsory, abolishing religious education and all schools supported by religious organizations of any kind, forbidding priests to teach in the schools.