In the early 80s of the XX century, journalist Vasily Peskov published a series of reports about the mysterious Lykov family, who lived in Khakassia for several decades and led a hermit lifestyle. It turned out that the Lykovs belonged to one of the branches of the Old Believer church. So the general public got acquainted with the little-known traditions of the Old Believers.
The concept of "Old Believer", or "Old Believer", appeared in the middle of the XVII century after the split that occurred in the Orthodox Church. Inexperienced contemporary, the word "starover" recalls bygone times that remained far in history. But the traditions of this religious movement are still strong today.
Church schism began after the reform undertaken in the early 50s of the XVII century by Patriarch Nikon. The innovations concerned, first of all, the correction of books on which the church service was conducted. Nikon decided to bring church services and rituals in line with the rules adopted in the Greek Orthodox Church. The reform of the patriarch found support from Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Followers of Nikon, nicknamed the "New Believers", relying on state power and violence, declared the renewed church the only correct one. Those who opposed the innovations were called the scornful word "schismatics".
Adherents of the old rite remained faithful to those ancient customs that had been established in the Orthodox Church since the baptism of Russia. They proudly call themselves Old Believers or Orthodox Old Believers. It should be noted that the differences between the two religious movements are only superficial, external in nature and are associated with the peculiarities of the rites and ceremonies. There are no profound differences in teaching between the adherents of the old and the new faith.
What are the ritual differences between the Old Believers and the New Believers? Adherents of the old faith continue to overshadow themselves with the sign of the Cross, using two rather than three fingers. The spelling of the name of Christ on the icons is also different for opponents: the Old Believers write it with one letter "and" - "Jesus", in contrast to the supporters of the new rites. Nikon also ordered the procession to be made in a different way - not clockwise, as is still customary among the Old Believers, but against. There is a difference in bowing and in answering the priest's prayers.
The traditions of the Old Believers related to everyday life may seem strange to some. Real Old Believers never shave their beards, refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol. Special requirements are imposed on household trifles: each member of the community has its own utensils that cannot be used by outsiders.
Prolonged persecution by the authorities and New Believers tempered the nature of true Old Believers. Often they fleeing persecution, whole families moved to previously uninhabited places. There are many cases where the Old Believers, who did not submit to their persecutors, subjected themselves to self-immolation. As in previous times, the current Old Believers are trying in every possible way to support each other and stay together, while remaining committed to regulations that may seem unusual to an uninitiated person.
