During that time it was common to either take the churches down completely or to hide them between big blocks, so nothing reminds of the churches' power or makes it look like it even has power at all. Churches and monasteries used to be built big so that many people would fit. But that also looked like there was a big power behind it, so it was standing in contradiction to the communist-socialist party. The only recognized power during that time was the one of the state and nothing shall dim it's shine and legacy.