Who are Molokans: History and the Basics of Faith

Having heard how a certain group of people is called an unusual word, we will certainly want to know who the Molokans are and why they are so called. It seems that this word is somehow connected with milk. And indeed it is. Although there are several versions about the origin of the given name, but all of them are somehow connected with this drink.

Dangerous sect

So, who are the Molokans? This is a group of people who have the same religious convictions. Molokanism is one of the branches of spiritual Christianity. In the XVI century, people began to express dissatisfaction with the actions of the Orthodox Church. Although they continued to believe in God, traditional rituals, icons, priests and even the Bible began to seem to them unnecessary intermediaries in communicating with the Creator. Therefore, they began to unite in communities and live by their own rules and laws. And by the XVII century such people are becoming more and more. The authorities, concerned about this phenomenon, begin to fight against it, that is, to evict those who have such beliefs, away from the central provinces. For this purpose, the banks of the Milk River in the Tauride province were chosen.

Whatever you call it

Perhaps this location also gave the name to members of this community in the future. Although some researchers, explaining who Molokans are, said that these are people who do not observe church posts and eat dairy products, in particular, they drink milk even these days. Also members of this community, while in the army or elsewhere far from their villages, preferred to eat dairy products to be sure that food was not added pork or alcohol, which they are banned. However, there is an opinion that the name is associated with the phrase of the apostle Peter from the First Cathedral Epistle, which spoke of the great importance for a man of pure verbal milk. As such, the Molokans perceive the Holy Scripture, according to the covenants of which they try to live. There is also a plant known as Tatar Molokans, but it hardly has anything to do with the name of the community that is mentioned in this article.

Go far away

However, the government did not stop on links to the Tauride province . 35 years after the Molokans settled in a new place, they were again started to be evicted. This time to the territory of the Caucasus. This is how the Molokans found themselves in Armenia. They had to settle high in the mountains, at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. The climate there was unfavorable for agriculture, but this type of activity is now the main one for Molokans. Until now, members of this community live in this country. It is interesting that they do not mix with the local population and only marry each other. Of course, the number of Molokans in the years since they set foot on this land has significantly decreased. Now in Armenia, only one village consists entirely of Molokans - Fioletovo. Its population is about a thousand people. In the late 80s, there were about 50,000 Molokans in Armenia. Molokans lived hard. Transcaucasia, however, became their home for many years. Perhaps, the difficulties that they had to overcome, and helped these people to preserve their identity to this day.

Spiritual Christians - Molokans

Referring representatives of this religious trend, the government feared disobedience. After all, if Molokans do not observe church rules, then, perhaps, they will rebel against the authorities. Although, as it turned out, they are quiet people who prefer to live apart. They have a spiritual leader - the presbyter. And although they do not have a single interpretation of the Holy Scripture, all Molokans strive for spiritual development, study the word of God and try not to do anything wrong. For a long time there were several groups: spiritual, evangelists, maximists, old-age and others. They differed in their interpretation and perception of the Bible. But all of them can be divided into two large groups. In one, religious teachings are interpreted literally, in another - allegorically. Representatives of all groups peacefully get along with each other and no one imposes their own worldview.

Than they are similar

Unites their denial of the orders of the official Orthodox Church. Who are Molokans? These are those who revere the Gospel, the prophets, but deny the worship of icons and prayers in the church. In their opinion, a person can communicate with God directly. Although in their settlements there are prayer houses where they gather, listen to sermons, sing psalms and perform some of their rituals, for example, baptisms and weddings. Church holidays are celebrated selectively. For example, they celebrate Easter, and Christmas does not recognize. Molokans do not wear crosses, they do not worship the relics of saints. But they, like other Christians, believe that good works help the soul to be saved. Believing in God and serving him is the main road of their life.

Usual things

Molokans from Russia and other countries live by their own rules. Worldly life also unites them, as well as spiritual life. They dress uniformly. Women must wear handkerchiefs and long skirts. Men do not shave their beards and put on their shirts. In the settlements strictly observe order and honor traditions. Alcohol is not consumed even on holidays. Do not celebrate birthdays. And in general, do not like entertainment. Even humble joys, such as reading books or watching TV, are prohibited by molokans. However, they celebrate weddings extensively, for several days. This is not surprising. After all, they do not tend to get divorced, which means that such a celebration happens to everyone only once in a lifetime.

Children attend general education schools. Parents spend little time teaching their offspring and do not blame for bad marks. After all, their children will not have to enter institutions, they will live in the settlement and will engage in peasant labor. Of course, the desire for material prosperity is not alien to Molokans. Therefore, the male part of the population goes to work in the city, most often employed by brigades for repair work. Molokans also earn money by selling various products made by themselves. It happens that young people leave the community and leave in search of a better and more interesting life.

Nowadays Molokan communities can be found all over the world. They are even in the US, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Ukraine. But the Tatar Molokan is not a member of the community that lives in Tatarstan, but just a weed plant. In Russia, the main place of location of the Molokan communities is the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories. For some representatives of these communities, the main thing today is not religious beliefs, but unification and isolation in order to preserve Russian traditions and customs, as well as life according to the laws of ancestors.