Traditions and culture of old believers in Poland Cover Image

Tradycje i kultura staroobrzędowców na ziemiach polskich
Traditions and culture of old believers in Poland

Author(s): Natalia Gburzyńska
Subject(s): History, Social Sciences, Sociology, Local History / Microhistory, Theology and Religion
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika
Keywords: old believers;schism;Russian Orthodox Church;

Summary/Abstract: This article refers to traditions and culture of Old Believers (Russian: староверы or старообрядцы, starovery or staroobryadtsy) in Poland. Old Believers separated in 1654 from Russian Orthodox Church as a protest against church reforms. They were persecuted and forced to emigrate. To Poland they arrived from Pskov and Nowogród. Modern-day Old Believers in Poland live in the three areas – around Augustów, Suwałki and Masuria. Initially they followed Old Believer’s traditions (e.g. they refused to stay in hospital). Now we can see assimilation with the Polish culture. In this article described elements related to Old Believers faith (e.g. molenna, prayer, icons, canonical collection of texts) and elements related to everyday life (e.g. folklore, clothes, food e.t.c.). This article is based on Bachelor Thesis of Natalia Gburzyńska.

  • Issue Year: 1/2011
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 7-20
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish