The Old Believers of Riga
Arnold Podmazov
Introduction
Latvian Old Believers historically is a particular ethno-confessional group residing on the territory of contemporary Latvia since the second half of the 17th century. In the course of time there have arisen specific cultural features of the Latvian Old Believers, they have retained traditions and customs of their ancestors not only in their religious, but also in everyday lives. Despite a somewhat reclusive character of their culture, the Old Believers are an essential part of the society in Latvia, they take an active part in the life of present-day Latvia.
As of today in Latvia there are approximately 80 000 Old Believers and those coming from Old Believers’ families. For the most part they are Russians, though there are also Byelorussians, Ukrainians and other nationalities among them. The Old Believers of Latvia are united in 69 communities that are independent financially, but together constitute a spiritual and canonical entity - the Old Orthodox Pomorian Church of Latvia. The largest number of the Old Believers’ communities is in Latgale (in eastern Latvia).
In Riga there are two Pomorian Old Believers’ communities: the Riga Grebenshchikov Old Believers’ Community and the Riga Pomorian Theophany Community. The Grebenshchikov Community is one of the largest Old Believers’ communities outside Russia (the total number of parishioners is around 10000); it is renowned as the spiritual center for Old Believers in Latvia and abroad.
Alongside with Old Believers’ communities in Riga there are also two Old Believers’ public organizations: the Old Believers’ Society of Latvia (founded in 1908, reestablished in 1994) and the I.N. Zavoloko Old Believers’ Society (founded in 1999).
Content
- Introduction
- Schism and “Old Belief”
- Beginnings of the Old Believers on the territory of Latvia
- Confessional Characteristics of Old Believers in Latvia
- Old Believers’ Church Building and Liturgy
- Books and Book Culture
- Iconographic Traditions of Riga Old Believers
- Pomorian Old Believer Traditions of the Art of Copper Casting
- Old Believer Churches in Riga
- Old Believer Societies in Riga
- Old Russian Residents of Riga and Old Believers in the 18th century
- The Years of Prosperity and the Years of Misery: Riga’s Old Believers in the 19th Century
- Riga Old Believers at the Turn of 19th and 20th Centuries
- Riga Old Believers in the Independent Latvia (1918–1940)
- Riga Old Believers During the Soviet Period (1940–1941, 1944–1991)
- Riga Old Believers after the Restoration of Latvia’s Independence
- Photogallery
- About the Project. The Old Believers of Riga: 250 Years of Cultural Historical Experience
