Pigin, A. V. STUDYING NORTH RUSSIA’S FOLK-HISTORICAL LEGENDS ABOUT OLD BELIEVERS (ON THE MATERIAL OF SIMEON GAVRILOV’S LITERARY WRITINGS) // Proceedings of Petrozavodsk State University. 2020. Vol. 42. No 5. P. 85–94. DOI: 10.15393/uchz.art.2020.503


«The world of folklore images»: research conference in memory of N. A. Krinichnaya

STUDYING NORTH RUSSIA’S FOLK-HISTORICAL LEGENDS ABOUT OLD BELIEVERS (ON THE MATERIAL OF SIMEON GAVRILOV’S LITERARY WRITINGS)

Pigin
A. V. 		Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Keywords:
Old Belief
North Russia’s folk-historical legends
N. Krinichnaya’s publications
Simeon Gavrilov
Catherine II
Nicolas I		 Summary: The article analyzes folk-historical legends within the literary writings of Simeon Gavrilov (1842–1917), an Old Believers scribe from the North Dvina river. These legends were recorded by him from the local inhabitants in Pomorye and Obonezhye, as well as on the rivers Pinega and North Dvina with the purpose of finding the Old Belief roots in North Russia. The article offers comments and additions to Neonila A. Krinichnaya’s publications on the narrative-thematic cycle of folk-historical legends about Old Believers. Guided by N. Krinichnaya’s works the author identifies folk-historical legends about the founding of hermitages, Old Believers’ death by the hands of oppressors and their self-burning, as well as about their relations with historical figures, such as Catherine II, Nicolas I, in Simeon Gavrilov’s writings. A religious basis is what Old Believers historical narratives have in common with the genre of a legend, whilst the sources of their motifs can be found in hagiography, the Scriptures and folk religious verses. It is concluded that Old Believers literary landmarks of North Russia are of value for studying folklore.



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