This article is devoted to problems of legitimation of the canonical structures of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1920s during the Civil War � non-recognition by the Soviet legislation of diocesan management structures as the legal entity. The function of the Brotherhood of Orthodox Christians as the central governing body of Penza Diocese and its role in preserving churches within the canonical Church is considered. The conclusions drawn are on the experience of the organization of the Brotherhood of Orthodox Christians under Bishop John (Pommer) in Penza Diocese from 1918 to 1920 in the fight against the renovation or the so-called "Putiata's distemper" which opened for the Russian Orthodox Church a way of adapting to the new conditions of the Soviet reality. Methodological tools include the following: chronological and problem approaches and comparative-historical, statistical, synchronistic analysis of historiographic sources. Work in various archive depositories demanded application of the complex method including frontal, purposeful and selective inspection of archival funds.

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