The forms of economic pressure of the Soviet state on clergy and religious communities as part of the Bolshevik famine strategy were analysed. Methodologically, the study is based on the principles of historism, objectivity, systematicity, as well as general scientific and historical methods. During the period of aggravation in social relations, provoked by the introduction of collectivization, the church and clergy were stigmatized by the Soviet authorities as class enemies and supporters of kurkuls. In 1932-1933, the economic pressure on the clergy became one of the tools for their liquidation «as a class». The article uncovers the forms of this economic pressure on the clergy and the church. It was found that the tax burden on the clergy was disproportional to their income, economically unreasonable and politically motivated. Representatives of all ranks suffered from the famine in the Ukrainian SSR. Financial situation of clerics of different denominations got significantly worse during 1932-1933.