Erzyan native religion: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Modern revival of the ethnic religion of the Erzya |
{{Short description|Modern revival of the ethnic religion of the Erzya}} |
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[[File:Mordvin Native Faith symbol.svg|thumb|200px|Mordvin Native Faith symbol, also used as logo of the Erzyan Mastor.]] |
[[File:Mordvin Native Faith symbol.svg|thumb|200px|Mordvin Native Faith symbol, also used as logo of the Erzyan Mastor.]] |
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'''Erzyan |
The '''Erzyan native religion''' ({{lang-myv|эрзянь пазнэнь озноматe|translit=erzań pazneń oznomate}}), also called '''Erzyan neopaganism''', is the [[Neopaganism|modern revival]] of the [[ethnic religion]] of the [[Erzya people|Erzya]] [[Mordvins]], peoples of [[Volga Finns|Volga Finnic]] ethnic stock dwelling in the [[republics of Russia|republic]] of [[Mordovia]] within [[Russia]], or in bordering [[administrative divisions of Russia|lands of Russia]]. The name of the originating god according to the Erzya tradition is Ineshkipaz. |
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The [[Mordvins]] have been almost fully [[Christianisation|Christianised]] since the times of [[Kievan Rus']]{{Obsolete source|reason=Kievan Rus' period ends in 1240, Russian Cadastre books start to list [[Mordovia|Mordvin lands]] in 17th, first [[Russian Empire Census]] in 1897|date=May 2022}}, although Pagan customs were preserved in the folklore and a few villages{{clarify|date=May 2022}} completely preserved the native faith at least until further missionary activities of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] in the 17th century and in the early 20th century.<ref>Filatov, Sergei; Shchipkov, Aleksandr. [http://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/rss/23-3_233.pdf "Religious Developments among the Volga Nations as a Model for the Russian Federation"]. ''Religion, State & Society'', Vol. 23, No. 3, 1995. p. 234.</ref> The Neopagan revival was started in 1990,<ref name="Schnirelmann206">Schnirelmann, Victor: ''[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20140922163017/http://www.wlu.ca/documents/6483/Christians_Go_home.pdf “Christians! Go home”: A Revival of Neo-Paganism between the Baltic Sea and Transcaucasia]''. Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2002. p. 206.</ref> alongside that of many other native religions in Russia, as the [[Soviet Union]] was on the brink of dissolution. |
The [[Mordvins]] have been almost fully [[Christianisation|Christianised]] since the times of [[Kievan Rus']]{{Obsolete source|reason=Kievan Rus' period ends in 1240, Russian Cadastre books start to list [[Mordovia|Mordvin lands]] in 17th, first [[Russian Empire Census]] in 1897|date=May 2022}}, although Pagan customs were preserved in the folklore and a few villages{{clarify|date=May 2022}} completely preserved the native faith at least until further missionary activities of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] in the 17th century and in the early 20th century.<ref>Filatov, Sergei; Shchipkov, Aleksandr. [http://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/rss/23-3_233.pdf "Religious Developments among the Volga Nations as a Model for the Russian Federation"]. ''Religion, State & Society'', Vol. 23, No. 3, 1995. p. 234.</ref> The Neopagan revival was started in 1990,<ref name="Schnirelmann206">Schnirelmann, Victor: ''[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20140922163017/http://www.wlu.ca/documents/6483/Christians_Go_home.pdf “Christians! Go home”: A Revival of Neo-Paganism between the Baltic Sea and Transcaucasia]''. Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2002. p. 206. ([https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20140922163017/http://www.wlu.ca/documents/6483/Christians_Go_home.pdf archived])</ref> alongside that of many other native religions in Russia, as the [[Soviet Union]] was on the brink of dissolution. |
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According to scholar [[Victor Schnirelmann]], 2% of the Erzya adhere to the native faith and |
According to scholar [[Victor Schnirelmann]], 2% of the Erzya adhere to the native faith and do not practice Christianity,.<ref name="Schnirelmann206"/> Adherents of the ''Erzyan Mastor'' organisation organise the [[Ras'ken' Ozks]] ({{literal translation|Native Prayer}}), a national Erzyan worship service held yearly, with participation also of members of the ''Mastorava'' organisation and other ones.<ref>Republic of Mordovia. [http://www.e-mordovia.ru/news/view/4694 В селе Чукалы прошел эрзянский праздник "Раськень Озкс"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226024103/http://www.e-mordovia.ru/news/view/4694 |date=2014-12-26 }}.</ref><ref>Uralistica News. [http://news.uralistica.com/?p=7511 Мордовские СМИ молчат о празднике «Эрзянь Раськень Озкс»]{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref><ref>[http://www.vaigel.ru/article/45 2013-це иень «Раськень озкс»] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316214800/https://www.vaigel.ru/article/45 |date=2020-03-16 }}. vaigel.ru.</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===Mastorava - Erzyan Society for National Rebirth=== |
===Mastorava - Erzyan Society for National Rebirth=== |
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The ''Mastorava'' organisation was established in 1990 with the aim of "restoring the Erzyaethnic communities", also fostering a revival of Paganism.<ref name="Schnirelmann206"/> The association is officially registered in [[Moscow]] since 2002.<ref>Russian organisations database: [https://archive.today/20130801120903/http://www.catalogfactory.ru/eng/55339145 Mastorava].</ref> The current president is Nikolay Vasilyevich Butilov. |
The ''Mastorava'' organisation was established in 1990 with the aim of "restoring the Erzyaethnic communities", also fostering a revival of Paganism.<ref name="Schnirelmann206"/> The association is officially registered in [[Moscow]] since 2002.<ref>Russian organisations database: [https://archive.today/20130801120903/http://www.catalogfactory.ru/eng/55339145 Mastorava].</ref> The current president is Nikolay Vasilyevich Butilov. |
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===Erzyan Mastor=== |
===Erzyan Mastor=== |
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[[File:Raskenj ozks-kirvactema.jpg|thumb|150px|Ritual preparations for the Rasken Ozks.]] |
[[File:Raskenj ozks-kirvactema.jpg|thumb|150px|Ritual preparations for the Rasken Ozks.]] |
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[[File:Rasjkenj Ozka- Modan kajamo.jpg|thumb|150px| |
[[File:Rasjkenj Ozka- Modan kajamo.jpg|thumb|150px|Erzya women taking part in Rasken Ozks celebrations.]] |
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The ''Erzyan Mastor'' ([[Erzya language|Erzya]] for: "Erzyan Land") is a more recent organisation splintering from the ''Mastorava'' association. At first it was headed by Raisa Kemaykina (Mariz Kemal; Маризь Кемаль).<ref name="Filatov-Shchipkov236"/> The group is focused on the Erzya |
The ''Erzyan Mastor'' ([[Erzya language|Erzya]] for: "Erzyan Land") is a more recent organisation splintering from the ''Mastorava'' association. At first it was headed by Raisa Kemaykina ([[Mariz Kemal]]; Маризь Кемаль).<ref name="Filatov-Shchipkov236"/> The group is focused on the Erzya, has political aims for the spread of Erzya Paganism, and is militant against Christianity.<ref>Erzyan Mastor website: [http://www.erzan.ru/khristianizacija Christianisation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704034228/http://www.erzan.ru/khristianizacija |date=2018-07-04 }}.</ref> In 1992 Kemaykina released the following declarations to the [[Chuvashia|Chuvash]] newspaper ''Atlas'', answering to a question about her attitude towards Christianity:<ref name="Filatov-Shchipkov236"/> |
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{{ |
{{blockquote|''I am strongly opposed to it. In its role as the official state religion of Russia, Christianity suffocated the religions of other nations, transforming them into involuntary spiritual slaves. [...] t is worse than a prison. Sooner or later people get out of prison and become masters of their own fate again. A prisoner is someone who has lost his or her freedom temporarily. But a slave is not a prisoner — he doesn't even desire freedom. Over the course of many centuries Christianity has bred our peoples into slaves, depriving them of freedom of thought and reducing them to the level of submissive cattle. In the Erzya religion the relationship between God and human beings is different from that in Christianity. It is deeper, more humane, more beautiful. [...] In our religion a person's worth is not killed or suppressed, but extolled. You never hear things like "you are God's slave", or "turn the other cheek", or "if someone takes your coat give them your shirt as well", or "bless your enemy".}} |
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In 1992 Kemaykina organised the first Pagan national ritual after decades or even centuries, sponsored by Erzyan businessmen.<ref name="Filatov-Shchipkov237">Filatov, Shchipkov. '''p. 237'''.</ref> Neighbouring villages learned long-forgotten Pagan prayers and Kemaikina was proclaimed the first priestess of the Erzya people.<ref name="Filatov-Shchipkov237"/> Television reports of that and following national worship ceremonies caused enthusiasm throughout the republic, and now the "Pagan question" is discussed from the remotest villages to university auditoria.<ref name="Filatov-Shchipkov237"/> |
In 1992 Kemaykina organised the first Pagan national ritual after decades or even centuries, sponsored by Erzyan businessmen.<ref name="Filatov-Shchipkov237">Filatov, Shchipkov. '''p. 237'''.</ref> Neighbouring villages learned long-forgotten Pagan prayers and Kemaikina was proclaimed the first priestess of the Erzya people.<ref name="Filatov-Shchipkov237"/> Television reports of that and following national worship ceremonies caused enthusiasm throughout the republic, and now the "Pagan question" is discussed from the remotest villages to university auditoria.<ref name="Filatov-Shchipkov237"/> |
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* [[Erzyan Mastor (journal)|''Erzyan Mastor'']] journal |
* [[Erzyan Mastor (journal)|''Erzyan Mastor'']] journal |
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*{{ill|Mokshen koy|ru|Мокшень кой}}, native religion of [[Moksha Mordvins]] |
*{{ill|Mokshen koy|ru|Мокшень кой}}, native religion of [[Moksha Mordvins]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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Latest revision as of 06:23, 13 May 2024
The Erzyan native religion (Erzya: эрзянь пазнэнь озноматe, romanized: erzań pazneń oznomate), also called Erzyan neopaganism, is the modern revival of the ethnic religion of the Erzya Mordvins, peoples of Volga Finnic ethnic stock dwelling in the republic of Mordovia within Russia, or in bordering lands of Russia. The name of the originating god according to the Erzya tradition is Ineshkipaz.
The Mordvins have been almost fully Christianised since the times of Kievan Rus'[obsolete source], although Pagan customs were preserved in the folklore and a few villages[clarification needed] completely preserved the native faith at least until further missionary activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century and in the early 20th century.[1] The Neopagan revival was started in 1990,[2] alongside that of many other native religions in Russia, as the Soviet Union was on the brink of dissolution.
According to scholar Victor Schnirelmann, 2% of the Erzya adhere to the native faith and do not practice Christianity,.[2] Adherents of the Erzyan Mastor organisation organise the Ras'ken' Ozks (lit. 'Native Prayer'), a national Erzyan worship service held yearly, with participation also of members of the Mastorava organisation and other ones.[3][4][5]
History
[edit]The revival of the Erzyan native religion has grown alongside, and with the support, of Mordvin nationalism which started in the last years of the Soviet regime.[6] The revival of the national consciousness of the Mordvins was difficult at first, since they were a minority in their country and the press, which was very influential, took a tough communist line.[6] The Russian democrats and communists were hostile towards Mordvin nationalists.[6]
At the start of the perestroika the Mordvin national intelligentsia waged a vigorous and successful campaign against Russian Orthodoxy, called "the religion of occupation", "the Russifying ideological force".[6] Later the Saransk Ministry of Culture endorsed the revival of Mordvin culture and Paganism, arousing outcry from local Orthodox bishops.[6] This was the circle that produced the first Neopagans, the Mastorava organisation led by the local poet Raisa Kemaikina, a group within the Saransk intelligentsia whose aim was the complete reconstruction of a Pagan worldview and religious services reworking folkloric, ethnographic and linguistic study.[6]
Mastorava - Erzyan Society for National Rebirth
[edit]The Mastorava organisation was established in 1990 with the aim of "restoring the Erzyaethnic communities", also fostering a revival of Paganism.[2] The association is officially registered in Moscow since 2002.[7] The current president is Nikolay Vasilyevich Butilov.
Erzyan Mastor
[edit]
The Erzyan Mastor (Erzya for: "Erzyan Land") is a more recent organisation splintering from the Mastorava association. At first it was headed by Raisa Kemaykina (Mariz Kemal; Маризь Кемаль).[6] The group is focused on the Erzya, has political aims for the spread of Erzya Paganism, and is militant against Christianity.[8] In 1992 Kemaykina released the following declarations to the Chuvash newspaper Atlas, answering to a question about her attitude towards Christianity:[6]
I am strongly opposed to it. In its role as the official state religion of Russia, Christianity suffocated the religions of other nations, transforming them into involuntary spiritual slaves. [...] t is worse than a prison. Sooner or later people get out of prison and become masters of their own fate again. A prisoner is someone who has lost his or her freedom temporarily. But a slave is not a prisoner — he doesn't even desire freedom. Over the course of many centuries Christianity has bred our peoples into slaves, depriving them of freedom of thought and reducing them to the level of submissive cattle. In the Erzya religion the relationship between God and human beings is different from that in Christianity. It is deeper, more humane, more beautiful. [...] In our religion a person's worth is not killed or suppressed, but extolled. You never hear things like "you are God's slave", or "turn the other cheek", or "if someone takes your coat give them your shirt as well", or "bless your enemy".
In 1992 Kemaykina organised the first Pagan national ritual after decades or even centuries, sponsored by Erzyan businessmen.[9] Neighbouring villages learned long-forgotten Pagan prayers and Kemaikina was proclaimed the first priestess of the Erzya people.[9] Television reports of that and following national worship ceremonies caused enthusiasm throughout the republic, and now the "Pagan question" is discussed from the remotest villages to university auditoria.[9]
See also
[edit]- Erzyan Mastor journal
- Mokshen koy, native religion of Moksha Mordvins
References
[edit]- ^ Filatov, Sergei; Shchipkov, Aleksandr. "Religious Developments among the Volga Nations as a Model for the Russian Federation". Religion, State & Society, Vol. 23, No. 3, 1995. p. 234.
- ^ a b c Schnirelmann, Victor: “Christians! Go home”: A Revival of Neo-Paganism between the Baltic Sea and Transcaucasia. Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2002. p. 206. (archived)
- ^ Republic of Mordovia. В селе Чукалы прошел эрзянский праздник "Раськень Озкс" Archived 2014-12-26 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Uralistica News. Мордовские СМИ молчат о празднике «Эрзянь Раськень Озкс»[permanent dead link].
- ^ 2013-це иень «Раськень озкс» Archived 2020-03-16 at the Wayback Machine. vaigel.ru.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Filatov, Shchipkov, Religious Developments Amongst the Volga Nations, p. 236.
- ^ Russian organisations database: Mastorava.
- ^ Erzyan Mastor website: Christianisation Archived 2018-07-04 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b c Filatov, Shchipkov. p. 237.
Bibliography
[edit]- Schnirelmann, Victor: “Christians! Go home”: A Revival of Neo-Paganism between the Baltic Sea and Transcaucasia. Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2002.
- Filatov, Sergei; Shchipkov, Aleksandr. Religious Developments among the Volga Nations as a Model for the Russian Federation. Religion, State & Society, Vol. 23, No. 3, 1995. pp. 234–237
External links
[edit]- Erzyan Mastor, official website