regime was rather tolerant towards the Old Believers as a whole, but in the 1930s, Old Believers too were subjected to severe repressions. Most of their churches were confiscated or demolished. During the Soviet period, the social strata which had been traditionally the backbone of the Old Believer population - peasants, cossacks, craftsmen, artisans, merchants and entrepreneurs, were practically extinguished. Nowadays Old Believers' churches are restored and recognized by the State. Edinovertsy Around 1800, a group of Popovtsy, mainly merchants from Moscow seeking the abrogation of discriminating legislation which obstructed their commercial activities, offered to acknowledge the leadership of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox State Church, on condition that they would be allowed to use the old books and rites. They came to be known as Edinovertsy and are generally not regarded as Old Believers, but rather Old-Ritualists. Popovtsy Churches The two churches of the 'Popovtsy are: Belokrinitskaya Hierarchy, also known as Belokrinitskoe Soglasie, officially called Russian Orthodox Oldritualist Church, has its centre situated at the Rogozhskoe cemetery in Moscow. It is the largest popovtsy church in modern Russia. In the 19th century, the Belokrinitskaya Hierarchy was subject to a schism of Okruzhnyy Raskol. Novozybkovskaya Hierarchy, officially known as the Russian Old-Orthodox Church, former beglopopovtsy. Further reading Храневич К. И. Поповщина // нциклопедический словарь Брокгауза и Ефрона : в 86 т. (82 т. и 4 доп.). — СПб., 1890—1907. Вургафт С. Г., Ушаков И. А. Старообрядчество. Лица, предметы, события и символы. Опыт энциклопедического словаря. — М., 1996. Старообрядческие иерархи. — М., 2002. Old Believer movement