Doukhobors

Doukhobors
Doukhobour women, 1887
Founder
Siluan Kolesnikov (17??–1775)
Regions with significant populations
Canada (British Columbia, etc.)40,000[1]
Southern Russia30,000
Religions
Christianity (Old Believers)
Scriptures
Book of Life (a hymnal)
Languages
South Russian • English
Related ethnic groups
Russians
Website
doukhobor.org
uscc-doukhobors.org

The Doukhobors (Canadian spelling) or Dukhobors (Russian: духоборы, духоборцы, romanized: dukhobory, dukhobortsy; lit. 'Spirit-warriors, Spirit-wrestlers')[2][3][4][5] are a Spiritual Christian ethnoreligious group of Russian origin. They are known for their pacifism and tradition of oral history, hymn-singing, and verse. They reject the Russian Orthodox priesthood and associated rituals, believing that personal revelation is more important than the Bible. Facing persecution by the Russian government for their nonorthodox beliefs, many migrated to Canada between 1899 and 1938, where most currently reside.[6]

In Russia, Dukhobortsy were variously portrayed as "folk-Protestants", Spiritual Christians, sectarians, and heretics. Among their core beliefs is the rejection of materialism. They also reject the Russian Orthodox priesthood, the use of icons, and all associated church rituals. Doukhobors believe the Bible alone is not enough to reach divine revelation[7] and that doctrinal conflicts can interfere with their faith. Biblical teachings are evident in some published Doukhobor psalms, hymns, and beliefs. Since arriving in Canada, parts of the Old Testament, but more profoundly the New Testament, were at the core of most Doukhobor beliefs. There continue to be spiritually progressive thinkers who, through introspection and debate, search for divine revelation to improve the faith.

The Doukhobors have a history dating back to at least 1701 (though some scholars suspect the group has earlier origins).[8] Doukhobors traditionally lived in their own villages and practiced communal living. The name Doukhobors, meaning "Spirit-wrestlers", derives from a slur made by the Russian Orthodox Church that was subsequently embraced by the group.[9]

Before 1886, the Doukhobors had a series of leaders. The origin of the Doukhobors is uncertain; they first appear in first written records from 1701.

The Doukhobors traditionally ate bread and borsch.[10][11] Some of their food-related religious symbols are bread, salt, and water.[12]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Magocsi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Lib.ru/Классика: Новицкий О. М.. Духоборцы". az.lib.ru. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "Peel 4372: Bonch-Bruevich, Vladimir Dmitrievich, Dukhobortsy v Kanadskikh preriiakh (1918)". peel.library.ualberta.ca. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "Dukhobor | Russian religious sect". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Sainsbury, Brendan. "Canada's little-known Russian sect". www.bbc.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Pinkerton, Robert (1833), Russia: or, Miscellaneous Observations on the Past and Present State of that Country and its Inhabitants, archived from the original on December 31, 2018, retrieved January 23, 2020
  8. ^ Sussex, R. (1993), "Slavonic Languages in Emigration", in Comrie, B.; Corbett, G.G. (eds.), The Slavonic Languages, Routledge.
  9. ^ "Doukhobors". The Canadian Encyclopedia. February 26, 2019. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. During the late 18th century, the group was persecuted by the tsars and the Russian Orthodox Church for heresy and pacifism. In 1785, an Orthodox archbishop called them Doukhobors, or "Spirit-Wrestlers." It was intended to mean "Wrestlers against the Holy Spirit," but the group adopted it, interpreting it as "Wrestlers for and with the Spirit."
  10. ^ "Civilization.ca - Doukhobors - Food for the Body". www.historymuseum.ca. Archived from the original on December 4, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  11. ^ "Doukhobor Cuisine - Pyrahi". www.usccdoukhobors.org. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  12. ^ "Bread Salt and Water". usccdoukhobors.org. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2020.