ARMENIAN MOLOKANS: MODERN ETHNOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT

DOI: 10.24412/2470-1262-2023-3-94-100

Abstract: Molokanism, as a religious direction, originated in Russia in the second half of the 18th century. The precondition for this was the Schism in the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1650s-1660s. due to the reform of Patriarch Nikon – with changes in liturgical books and rites. Orthodox Christians who did not accept the reform began to be called Old Ritualists or Old Believers. But on the basis of Schism, other branches of Christianity also began to form, to which, primarily, Molokanism and Dukhoborism can be attributed, as the most widespread currents. Many mistakenly consider Molokans and Dukhobors to be Old Believers. At the beginning of the 19th century, when Molokanism and Dukhoborism engulfed several provinces of the Russian Empire, persecution and deportations began – to the borders of the empire. This is how Molokans ended up in the south of Russia, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Nowadays, Molokans have almost completely assimilated in Russia, practically no Molokans left in Georgia and Azerbaijan, and only in Armenia do they live compactly, as a separate community that has retained its faith, habits and traditions.

Keywords: Ethnoportrait, Molokans, Molokanism, Armenia, Fioletovo, religion

References:

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Information about the author:

Elena Alekseevna Shuvaeva (Armenia, Russia): Works at the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Yerevan. Works as Deputy Chairperson at the Association of Veterans of the Republic of Armenia. Teaches Russian literature at Yerevan State University (Ijevan branch). Member of the Writers Union of Armenia and the Writers Union of Russia.

E-mali: lena478@mail.ru

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7759-7306

For citation: E.A. Shuvaeva, (2023). Armenian molokans: modern ethnographic portrait

Cross-Cultural Studies: Education and Science, Vol.8, Issue 3 (2023), pp. 94-100 (in USA)

Manuscript received: 16/9/2023

Accepted for publication: 20/11/2023