Problems of Archaeology, Ethnography, Anthropology of
Siberia and Neighboring Territories

ISSN 2658-6193 (Online)

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2017 Volume XXIII

УДК 398.3

Cult of Saint Nicholas in the Popular Beliefs of the Izhma Komi: Actualization and Strategies for Image Preservation

Golubkova O.V.

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Abstract

The article is based on author’s field materials which were obtained from the Izhma Komi in the Komi Republic and in the Siberian North (The Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug) in the 2000s. St. Nicholas is one of the most popular saints among the northern Komi. St. Nicholas appears in many legends and traditions of the Komi as a multifunctional deity, not always associated with the Christian Orthodox cult. Popular Christian image of Nicholas the Wonderworker combined the functions of the family patron spirit and threatening forest master who was able to control the natural elements - wind, fire, and water. Later adoption of Christianity by the Komi compared to the Russians might have resulted in transferring of pagan beliefs to St. Nicholas, who became their particularly vivid embodiment. This ensured the viability of his image in the traditional culture of the Izhma Komi.

Keywords

popular Christianity, Saint Nicholas, Wonderworker, Komi Izhma, the Ob Komi, patron saint, forest master, devilry

Chief Editor
Academician A.P. Derevyanko

Deputy Chief Editor
Academician V.I. Molodin

17, Аkademika Lavrentieva prosp., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

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