Faculty Publications

Religious Belief and Practice in Itelmen History

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Itelmen history; Kamchatka; religion; Russian Orthodoxy

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Sibirica

Volume

13

Issue

2

Abstract

Itelmen people of the Kamchatka Peninsula have felt and experienced the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church for over 300 years. Explorers' reports tell us that at the same time that Itelmens rebelled violently against the tsar's representatives, they accepted and appropriated the power of the church. This article examines religiosity in Itelmen history as it is revealed through a critical approach to sources, especially by focusing on Itelmen actions. Missionaries and ethnographers' preconceptions gave shape to their depictions of Itelmen religious beliefs and practices as (1) Christian beliefs, (2) anathema to Christian beliefs, or (3) mere superstitions. In order to speak about Itelmen perceptions, the article focuses primarily on actions taken during this early period of recorded Itelmen history and on the writers who showed an interest in describing how Itelmens thought about religious questions. The article also recounts the little known story of the 1848 Kutkh rebellion.

Department

Department of Geography

Original Publication Date

6-1-2014

DOI of published version

10.3167/sib.2014.130202

Link to Full Text

Comments?

Share

COinS