Russian Old Believers - photo project by Mikhail Evstafiev

[SwordsmanOfFaith]

It's good to know that the Old believers (atleast in Moscow) have reconciled themselves with the Moscow patriarchate.

Glory to God!

[MrNeme33333]

Слава тебе, Господи, что мы липовани

[Bigsquid91]

Name of the song?

[chume65]

Beautiful. I knew very little about this. Please tell me if you can, what is this piece of music?

[Stupness]

many starovers were exiled during soviet union from russia to georgia. few but some of their descendants still have their traditions kept

[ArtObraz]

There are many communities of Old Believers in the US, Canada, Romania, Latin America, Australia, and of course in Russia.

[545fight]

Hello. Is there are some oldbeliever communities in Europe or USA at our days?Please write back . Остались ли ещё старообрядческие общины в США или в Европе в наши дни?

[sirroach1]

@545fight  hey what do want to know, I am an old beleiver from woodburn

[MsMeletina]

I grew up in the Russian Orthodox Old Believer church, mostly from Alaska where i was born to Oregon where I was raised. Many of my freinds and family members were in the pictures. The only thing I can say to the people who are curious is that you should just ask. In my church the clergy is always willing to explain things to anyone. Popular to contrary belief we do not push the outside world away, we have adapted to the changing world while not changing our own beliefs.

[lumberjak5010]

What is the name of this recording and record company please? Thank you for this beautiful video...I have so much respect for people who hold to their beliefs while everyone around them falls .....peace be with you all.

[volapuk49]

Lovely.

[cuttlefisch]

This music is amazingly beautiful. Orthodox singing is the best Church music of all.

[kardancer1]

Very Interesting video. My Grandfather is a Byzantine Catholic. His Family is from apart of Russia, which is now part of the Ukraine and Slovakia. I just found out about Old Believers the other day when I stumbled on a documentary about them. My grandfather loved it. I saw a lot of similarites between his church and theirs. I know Orthodox is not under the pope Byzantine Catholic is but they are identical almost in worship. Does anyone know the difference between these three faiths.

[narancsleWilhelm]

@kardancer1 There are of course several differences, but concerning the rituals greek catholics and orthodox are quite similar, almost completely alike. The major difference is that greek Catholics have adopted the Roman patriarch as the main Patriarch, technically becoming under the influence of Rome. On the other hand the old believers have a very particular rite, which is the original form of Christian practise in Russia. You should read about it on the internet.

[mishakol129]

True believers!

They are not deceived by the devil!

The Eastern Orthodox church is still the true, original church, But they have been fooled by the devils sly cunning

Its unfortunate,

The consequences of this deception is the degradation of piety and traditional worship with absolute reverence, in the service of Christ our God.

The Eastern Orthodox churches do not hold strict standards

As the right believing Old believers do, and they consequently have slackened in vigilance and piety.

[dakotagerman1]

@mishakol129

Not necessarily. I think finding a happy medium between advancements in science and technology with the tradition (yet be open to the possibility of "new wine") is the secret of their strength.

[tommy3lions]

Cool vid, cool music.

[pauljwigowsky]

Mihail, thank you for the video. I'm glad I had a chance to meet you the two times you came to Woodburn.

Anybody wanting more information on the Russian Old Believers -- check out my book,

Freedom for an Old Believer, by Paul John Wigowsky

[slawayaru]

0:24 It looks like our old orthodox church in the region of Nizhny Novgorod.

[mihaitudosa]

Thank you very much for posting these photos. I am a proudly old believer from Romania and I had seen "me" in these photos, in this church, in this rare, very rare culture... I am glad that there are more and more people like me and my brothers and sisters that love the russian language, that love to listen to russian songs and to admire so much these beautiful and astonishing photos. Also, I will prepare some materials from my mother`s village of Old-Believers.

[Serlas]

I was trying to do a project about my religion and came up with your video. It's beautiful- but it was rather funny to see my priest and my aunt in your video...thank you for including the church in Erie. Although, the church in the beginning is now another sect- we broke off several years ago.

[superiorjane]

That was beautiful. I live near Woodburn, and have often been curious about the lives of the Old Believers. These pictures made me want to learn even more .

[anastasiosg21]

whats the difference with the orthodox? arent the same?

[bezmolvie]

There's such thing in Christianity as Holy Tradition. We believe that the "Orthodox" church broke it like other schismatics, who were almost the same dogmatically but unforetunately started to break away from the Holy Tradition. The sing of the cross, baptism, alleluia song, etc. are (according to the Holy Fathers) an apostolic tradition. Thus, any change in it (see 1st canon of the 7th Ecumenical Council) will damage the sacred meaning/dogma that is hidden under an outward ritual.

[onkafoe]

A lot of modern things are bad, and progress is not always for the better, but generally enlightenment, openness, free science and freedom from old morals is a good thing. However, learning about these isolated pockets of old superstition makes me very sad, that people can be so indoctrinated and narrow minded to believe old fairy tales to the letter - so much that they do not want any progress at all. I wonder what it's like to grow up in this environment and be different.

[lilsteller]

Not accepting everything around you does not mean you don't accept progress. People from different cultural view points may not see owning a car as progress. Does that mean they're backwards? No. It's just that they have a different view on what progress is.

[ayebaybayy2]

thank you for taking the time and making this video !=] im a old believer .спасибо

i enjoy the video.=]

[lilsteller]

Woodburn, Oregon I heard has the most Obs in the United States. But because they live in a fast growing area many are re-locateing to other less populated regions of America. Is this true?

[CBYATOGOR]

АМИНЬ!

[lubavam]

I myself am an Old Believer, and I found this video intersting. No matter how hard we attempt to hold on to our traditions, change is coming, wether we want it or not. Our youth is being corrupted by the modern world, and many of them have abandoned much. I am only 14 but I understand what is happening. Personally I am happy that someone took the time to appreciate who we are.

note: this is not my account.

[galvk]

It can not last forever. Something must happen. I recognised the music that sounds in this film - it is "Blagoslovi, dushe moya, Gospoda" from Rakhmaninov's Liturgy. It would be interesting to hear the Old Believers preying and authentic singing.

[galvk]

Photo with hunters standing by a killed tiger is unpleasant. It makes me think about how few tigers are left and how numerous human beings are. The God does not want us to wipe the wild animals from the face of the Earth.

The Orthodox Old Rite Christians can only live in remote, isolated places. When they face the modern consumers world, they can not keep their traditional way of life. If people live in isolation, they can earn their living only by hunting, fishing, killing tigers and so on...

[theoned90]

Beautiful video; it shows the beauty of a truly wonderful culture. I have a great respect for the Old Believers and I hope that they're culture will continue to survive. I pray that the Old Believers will return to the rest of the Orthodox Church, the same way the Old Believers in Erie did. Thank you for this video.

[bvslong]

I am a oldbeliever and I go the one in Gervais OR

[Serlas]

Not all of the old believers in Erie "returned to the orthodox church", only the members of the congregation of the first church seen under "Erie" my whole family as well as others stayed with the old ways and formed the church of the holy trinity, whose members are actually depicted in the video...I'm proud that we stuck to our beliefs and our commitment to our heritage.

[theoned90]

Church of the Nativity did not abandon their heritage. They still do things according to the Old Rite since that is accepted by Moscow now. Which synod does your church belong to by the way? Are you under Metropolitan Kornily of Moscow? I was not aware there were other Old Believers in Erie.

[bezmolvie]

Спаси Господи. I just wish the music would be...not that.

[cortezawwris]

very nice work i may say. Interesting photo with orthodox follower and the american flag. When that flag represents a U.S a nation that bombed orthodox church's and supported and armed genocides committed agianst orthodox people by turkey, Albania and terroist.

[EverythingZen14]

Well, Orthodox people in Russia and Georgia are bombing each other...

[cortezawwris]

Georgia is mostly fell to westerner missionaries now and they have been blinded by Westerners who destroy there culture and use them as a puppet. It deeply saddens me to see the Georgia act this way and pray for there them everyday.

[clarajanny]

Politics

Politics kill religion

[pauljwigowsky]

Mihail, thanks for sharing your extraordinary pcitures with us online. I was amazed at your extensive travels to Canada, Alaska, Pennsylvania , Oregon and Romania. The pictures are truly worth thousands of words. My only wish is that you had done a few pictures in color to show the colorful clothes that the Old Believers wear. The music was uplifting