Wayne State University has created a video about the Russian Old Believers in Detroit. It gives the history as well as the current state of the community. The project called "Ethnic Layers of Detroit" includes this 6 minute description by a Russian language instructor.
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
Thanks for posting this. A very nice video, although it ends rather abruptly. There's promise of more to be had at the website which is listed at the end - http://www.langlab.wayne.edu/eld, although, as noted, the website isn't live yet. Will have to keep an eye on it.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
Although the video refers to him as a 'pastor', a "nastavnik" is the congregation's prayer leader, not a priest. He doesn't serve the Mysteries except in those communities where he may officiate baptism (I don't know enough about this particular community's heritage to know whether it is one of those).
Tom or Deacon Randy can likely give a more definitive answer but I feel reasonably safe in saying that a nastavnik would lead the congregation in a somewhat more expansive version of what we would call a Reader's Service.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
I am not a Russian Old Believer not can I speak for the priestless community in Erie, PA, which I have studied over the last 40 years. However, I can share some information about their nastavniks and speculate about their future prayer leaders.
The priestless Old Believers in Erie have generally chosen one of their own male members as nastavnik. He is usually regular in his church attendance, follows the religious traditions, knows the Old Church Slavonic rituals, and is acceptable to the congregation. Upon selection, he is authorized to perform baptisms and conduct marriages and funerals. The current nastavnik is in his 90's but is very knowledgeable and active.
Who will succeed him? No one knows. There has been some communication with the Old Believers in Riga, Latvia, about a future nastavnik, but no decision has been made. When any change occurs, I will notify our Forum.
Thanks, Tom - I figured that he probably performed baptisms, but wasn't aware that he also conducted marriages.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
Neil: Thank you for your kind response, yet my question to myself and others, is why are the Old Believers different from a Protestant denomination? They have no Bishops, no continuation of the Church, an old nastvanik…..yet without coming across inappropriately, can someone help me understand why they are different? I understand they don’t believe in the Pope, but it seems they also don’t believe in the tradition that brought to them where they were till the 19th century?
Old Believers claimed that it was the Nikonians (Russian Orthodox) who left the Church by rejecting Tradition and losing a valid priesthood and sacraments. Instead, the Old Believers preserved the original beliefs and rituals minus those sacraments which were no longer present because there were no priests or bishops. From their perspective, the Orthodox (Nikonians) were like the western Protestants and Old Believers were like the original Christians who kept the Faith.
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