Church Merit Medal.

[Taz]

Here is a Church Merit Medal from 1971.

I would tend to class it more as a Badge, but anyway my question is this, and please correct me if I am wrong.
Wasn,t the open display of Religous Medals and Badges Officialy prohibited under the Soviet reign?
And if this is the case where would such Medals be worn?
Maybe they were tolerated?

Eddie.

[Nota Bene]

Eddie,

Now, that's an interesting piece! I've never seen one before. I believe this is some sort of acknowledgment badge from the Russian Patriarch. I suppose it could be for clergy or laymen. They were not prohibited (after the war, that is).

Alexei