Russian Old Believers: traditions and innovations

Abstract

The worldview of all Old Believers’ groups is based on a fundamental traditionalism. One of them strictly monitor its performance in everything associated with the faith; the other ones claim that following the ancient tradition is needed in the majority or prevalence of social, family relations and even in everyday life. But in a number of cases, adherence to the traditional way is a characteristic of the entire Old Believers’ community. Therefore, it is important to trace the changes or fading of the tradition in Old Believers’ communities according to changes in geographical, historical and social conditions of life. An attempt to trace a real life in the traditions through centuries is made in the proposed article on the topic of the phenomena of the Pomor Old Believers’ communities of Verkhokamye.