This article analyzes to the process of gathering information about the little-known Old Believers' denomination through the communication between the secular and church authorities of Kazan province and the representatives of the Ryabinovtsy the first half of the 19th century. By the beginning of the 19th century, the Ryabinovtsy, or “denomination of the cross” had not been mentioned in any polemical works, written by either Orthodox, or Old Believers. They did not have any published sources describing their religious doctrine. The strengthening of administrative restrictions and local oversight of Orthodox parish life during the reign of Nicholas I led to an increase in investigative cases against the Ryabinovtsy who were accused of defecting from Orthodoxy to schism. In the context of these investigations, officials from the provincial government and clergymen from the parish church and religious consistory collected information about the Ryabinovtsy during interrogations and persuasions. They gathered data on the rites of baptism, marriage, communion and confession, and burial. These materials allow reconstructing to some extent the religious everyday life of the Ryabinovtsy during the period in question. In the article assumption is made that ceremonial practice of the Ryabinovtsy is close to the religious everyday life of the Spasovo denomination. Distinctive features of the Ryabinovtsy were singled out: a wooden cross without the face of Christ marked, baptism with midwives or tutors, extra-church marriages with parents' blessing, and prayers for the tsar.
Key words: Denomination of the Cross, Ryabinovtsy, Old Believers, Orthodox Church, Orthodox parish, Old Believers' denominations
DOI: 10.22250/20728662_2023_3_88
About the authors
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Artem V. Krestyaninov – PhD (History), Assistant Professor at the Department of Russian History and Archive Studies, Кazan Federal University; 18 Kremlevskay str., Kazan, 420008, Russia; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |