Decree on the separation of church and state and school from church (Russian: Декрет об отделении церкви от государства и школы от церкви) is a legal act adopted by the Council of People's Commissars of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on January 20 (February 2), 1918 came into force on January 23 (February 5) of the same year, on the day of official publication. Installed the secular nature of the state power, proclaimed freedom of conscience and religion, religious organizations deprived of any property rights and the rights of a legal entity. It laid the foundation for the deployment of atheistic propaganda and atheistic education.