By Kendra Remsen

Old Believers have lived on the Kenai Peninsula for almost half a century. A common question of many other Kenai Peninsula residents is, “How did they end up here?” In this presentation, I will explain the following aspects of Old Believer history and culture on the Kenai Peninsula: The Russian Orthodox schism

Old Believer movement and migration

Kenai Peninsula settlement

Living on the Peninsula

Adaptation to the 21st century

Split between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Old Believers movement in the mid-17th century

Information

Left: Old Believer sign of the cross technique. Right: Russian Orthodox (Pravoslavny) hand position.

Mid-1600’s: Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church

Wanted to realign the Russian Orthodox Church with the Greek Orthodox Church after centuries of division Form of bowing

Direction of procession

Number of fingers used to cross oneself

Spelling of Jesus

Censored icons used in churches and homes

Information

Those who refused to conform to Nikon’s edict became known as Staroviertsi, or “Old Believers.”

Stripped of all civil rights in 1666

Active protesters were arrested and executed

An Old Believer priest disputes with the Patriarch over matters of faith in this painting by Vasily Perov

Information

In 1671, Feodosia Morozova, an Old Believer, was arrested by Nikonians. She holds up two fingers (instead of three), referring to a major dispute between the two groups over how to properly make the Sign of the Cross on oneself.

Wanted to modernize Russia (keep up with Europe)

Early 1700’s: Excommunicates Old Believers from the Church

Information

Migrated to Siberia and other secluded areas of Russia to escape persecution.

Communist revolution of 1917 drove many Old Believers out of Russia.

Information

1917: Fled to China. They found some financial footing there, but when

China turned to communism, many left for Brazil.

1959: Brazil Many found it difficult to make a living and were ready

to move on.

Information

Early 1960’s: Old Believers moved to Oregon’s Willamette Valley Elders soon began to feel

that the community was being negatively influenced and tempted by modern American society and decided to seek out a more isolated location.

Information

The Old Believers are not to be confused with the late-1700’s to mid-1800’s Russian settlements at Ninilchikand Kenai. These were part of the Russian American Company, (colonization organization) which developed following Bering’s expeditions to Alaska.

Old Believers did not come to the Kenai Peninsula until 1967-68.

With a grant from the Tolstoy Foundation in New York, five families were able to purchase 640 acres of government land on the Kenai Peninsula in 1967. Ten adults, twelve children, eight cows, and four calves started the community of Nikolaevsk.

Nikolaevsk is located near Anchor Point, about fifteen miles north of Homer.

Nikolaevsk Village, as it appeared in National Geographic Magazine in September 1972. The village was four years old.

Knowledge

Old Believers came from China, Brazil, Turkey, Australia, Iran, and other parts of the United States to settle in Nikolaevsk. Within two years, the community had running water and electricity. Several men bought into the thriving commercial fishing industry. From 1975 to 1979, many Nikolaevsk residents became American citizens.

Russian Old Believers take a U.S. Naturalization course in 1975 from Kenai Peninsula Community College.

Knowledge

As Nikolaevsk grew, so did animosity within the Church. Prompted by cultural and religious concerns, some families left Nikolaevsk to form new communities. Razdolna

Voznesenka

Kachemak-Selo

Knowledge

Despite living in close proximity to American culture, Old Believers have kept many of their customs and values in tact to this day. Most wear the traditional dress on a daily basis, don’t smoke or drink hard alcohol, avoid tea and coffee, and men don’t shave.

Graduates of Kachemak-Selo School wearing traditional clothing.

----------------------------------------------Clothing is colorful and handmade, with men and boys wearing embroidered shirts and hand-woven belts, and women and girls wearing ankle-length dresses. Three elements given at baptism must be worn at all times by followers of the Church – the shirt, belt, and cross.

Wisdom - Results

Many Old Believers are bilingual. Most families speak Russian or a Russian-English blend at home. In village schools, students learn both English and Russian.

Village schools run on an alternative school calendar. While most Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools run on a calendar much like those from around the state, village schools run according to the Old Believer religious calendar, which includes several holidays.

Village schools open in early August and close for summer at the end of May, with Saturday School compensating for days missed for holidays-------------------------------------------------------To see the full Village School calendar, click here: http://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=22807

Wisdom - Results

Cultural integration has had a profound effect on the way Old Believers have lived for centuries. While preserving their lifestyle has always been very important to the Old Believers, a concern has arisen that their culture will be lost as the younger generations take on American ways and adapt to the 21st

century. School has played an important role in these changes. While village schools have made a point of teaching Old Believer students the archaic dialect of Russian, other provisions like technology use and extra-curricular activities have challenged the old ways.

As seen here, Voznesenka School has infused new technology like Smart Boards into their classrooms. A decade ago, village parents were hesitant to allow their students to use computers, but the students in school today have grown up with technology.

Wisdom - Results

In years past, many Old Believers would leave school after the 8th or 9th grade to begin their adult lives. However, as they adapt to American customs, students are postponing marriage and adulthood to graduate high school and in many cases, attend college.

Kachemak-Selo School has a 100% graduation rate.

Wisdom - Results

The unique history and culture of Old Believers have been celebrated on the Kenai Peninsula since they arrived in 1967. After their centuries-long road to find a permanent home, the Old Believers of the Kenai Peninsula have been warmly welcomed by the community of Homer.

The Homer High School Hockey Team poses for a picture on Senior Night 2013. They all wear traditional Russian shirts, made by an Old Believer team mother.

Wisdom - Results