International Festival of Old Believers in Buryatia

The Cultural Space and Oral Culture of the Semeiskie
Russian Federation
UNESCO “Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” 18 May 2001
Credit: unesco.org

The Meeting of Old Believers of the World “The Avvakum’s Path”

The Republican Center of Folk Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Communications of the Republic of Buryatia informs that the Meeting of Old Believers of the World “The Avvakum’s Path” (further - the Meeting) will take place, the first time in Buryatia, from May 30 till June 3, 2007, and it will be dedicated to the 250 anniversary of resettlement of Old-Believers to the Trans-Baikal region.

The main organizers of the project are the President, the Government and the People's Khural of the Republic of Buryatia. The main goal of the Meeting is comprehensive support to the process of preservation and development of unique culture of Old Believers which was added on May, 18th 2001 to the UNESCO “Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in Paris, France.

During the Meeting a number of activities will take place: a scientific-practical conference, the international festival-competition of folklore groups, exhibitions of national art crafts and arts, round tables, public festivities, familiarizing guests with activities of the Center of Old Believers’ culture, with life and a way of life of Old Believers through visiting their houses and presentations with samples of dishes of traditional cuisine, etc.

Application forms for participation or questions please e-mail to:
rcntbur@mail.ru, or rcntbur@yandex.ru .
Our contact phones: (8-3012) 45-59-14, 45-53-25, 45-58-15.

The Avvakum’s Path
Old Believers of Buryatia

Встреча старообрядцев мира «Путь Аввакума»

Республиканский центр народного творчества Министерства культуры и массовых коммуникаций Республики Бурятия информирует о том, что 30 мая – 3 июня 2007г. впервые в Республике Бурятия проводится Встреча старообрядцев мира «Путь Аввакума» (далее - Встреча), посвященная 250-летию переселения старообрядцев в Забайкалье.

Главными учредителями данного проекта являются Президент, Правительство и Народный Хурал Республики Бурятия. Основной целью Встречи является всемерное содействие процессу сохранения и развития уникальной культуры старообрядцев, включенной по решению ЮНЕСКО от 18 мая 2001г. в Париже в список «Шедевры культурного и нематериального наследия человечества».

В рамках Встречи пройдут научно-практическая конференция, фестиваль-конкурс фольклорных коллективов, выставки народных художественных промыслов и декоративно-прикладного искусства, круглые столы, народные гуляния, знакомство гостей с деятельностью Центра семейской культуры, бытом и укладом жизни семейских с посещением усадеб и угощением блюдами традиционной кухни и т.д.

Заявки на участие или интересующие Вас вопросы просим направлять по e-mail: rcntbur@mail.ru, rcntbur@yandex.ru.
Наши контактные телефоны: (8-3012) 45-59-14, 45-53-25, 45-58-15.

Путь Авакума
Старообрядцы Бурятии

The Cultural Space and Oral Culture of the Semeiskie
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
First Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, page 17

Much of the world’s most valuable
heritage takes the form of artistic
performances that are continually recreated
and adapted to changing conditions.
Often these art forms themselves play
important roles in shaping contemporary
ways of life.

Dawnhee Ylm

The Cultural Space and Oral Culture of the Semeiskie

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The Semeiskie, a community of Old Believers, live today in a
remote area of the Transbaikal region. They are a confessional
community inside Russia and possess their own specific elements
of culture and their own group consciousness. The Semeiskie,
“those who live as a family”, are Old Believers, loyal to the
pre-seventeenth century orthodox cult. The history of the
Semeiskie is marked by repression, persecution and exile, first of
all at the Instigation of the orthodox Church after the schism in
the seventeenth century, and then under the Soviet regime.
After settling in the isolation of Siberia in the reign of Catherine
the Great, they managed to preserve the culture of their respective
geographical origins and the Russian way of life of those
times. The Semeiskie speak a south Russian dialect borrowed
from Belorussian, Ukrainian and Buryat and have a life style
that is characterized by the cult of the family, strong moral
principles, traditional dress, and a traditional and particular
style of building and decoration. The choirs, who perform traditional
songs at family celebrations and popular festivals, have
their roots in the Russian liturgical music of the Middle Ages.
These are a unique example of polyphonic singing, known as
“drawl” singing.
Because of economic and social factors and the pressure from
new technologies, several elements of this culture are tending to
become standardized and even to disappear altogether. The
number of Old Believers, and therefore of experts in the knowledge
and traditions, IS in constant decline. While there is a real
will to protect this heritage (as is shown by the creation of the
“Semeiskie Cultural Centre” in the village of Tarbagatay), the
weakness of budgetary resources places a severe limitation on
the effectiveness of any action. The plan makes provision for
effective support for the activities of associations such as the
“Semerskie Cultural Centre” as well as a series of legal and practical
measures aimed at preserving, supporting and promoting
the heritage of the Semeiskie. This plan therefore focuses on
scientific research (study programmes, conferences), the continuity
of popular traditions (the creation of museums of history
and ethnography, the awarding of scholarships and the introduction
of elements of Semeiskie culture in the school syllabus),
promotional activities (the celebration of festivals in the
Semeiskie calendar) and a publications programme (publication
of academic studies and history textbooks).

Source: First Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, page 17

Official server of Buryat Republic state authority branches: The preparation for the meeting of Staroobryatsev (Old-believers) of the world has begun
25-12-06 10:04

The session of the Organising committee on preparation and holding the international festival "The meeting of old-believers of the world" took place on January 19, 2007. It authorized a detailed plan and media-plan of preparation and holding of this important action.
As it is known, our republic will be the place of "The meeting of old-believers of the world" from May 30 till June 3, 2007. Within this Meeting a number of activities are planned to be held in Ulan-Ude and districts of Buryatia, their aim is preserving and development of culture and traditions of old-believers. Among these actions are the V international scientific-practical conference "Staroobryadchestvo: history and modernity, local traditions, Russian and foreign relations", the international festival-competition "Razdaysya, Karagod!", the republican children's festival of old-believers' songs, competitions in folk games, exhibitions, development and presentation of tourist routes. There also will be the ceremony of foundation of the first stone of the Christmas Cathedral and memorial signs will be established on the way of Protopop Avvakum along Zabaikalye.
The districts of the republic also will take part in this activity, regional celebrations and competitions will be held there. Within preparation to the Meeting of old-believers of the world it is planned to issue an album on history and culture of old-believers, a video film, etc. This action is to become an important consolidating factor in the development of culture of old-believers and the holiday for the whole population of Buryatia.

Sounds of the Starovery
Listen to these Old Believers sing,
starting with a solo and blending into five-part harmony
327K/30 sec.
AIFF or WAV sound

links:

UNESCO Moscow Office

USC Trojan Family Magazine - Spring 2001: Siberia: Back to the Past (page 1)
Starovery, or “Old Believers,” are Russia’s version of the Amish – and they’re dying out. Trekking into remote Siberia, a joint Russian-American research team rushed to preserve a folk legacy that predates Peter the Great.

Old Believers keep traditions alive in Siberia
By Kara Fox
Sierra Sun, kfox@sierrasun.com
October 25, 2006

Староверы в Самаре

CNN--InDepth: Russian Elections 2000
Old Believers end isolation in Siberian borderlands
These religious fundamentalists hope tourists will pay money to experience the old ways of Mother Russia their ancestors preserved during two centuries of exile
By Steve Nettleton
CNN Interactive Correspondent
Credit: Cable News Network

Baikal as a World Natural Heritage site
We live at the Baikal
Baikal Information Center "Gran´"

The republic of Buryatia

The current documentary ‘The Republic of Buryatia’ has been released to go on with the series ‘The Geographical Video Encyclopedia’
The film excitingly tells us about the history, modern ethnography, nature and economy of the region. This territory accommodates Lake Baikal neighbouring the ranges of the Sayan Mountains and quite different cultures peacefully co-existing side by side. The authors of the film will take you to Buddistic holidays celebrated at the principal datsan (lamasery monastery) of Russia, you will get acquainted with the Buryats’ customs and cuisine, and you will attend the real shamanistic actions. In Russian villages you are expected to meet Russian Old Believers exiled to Transbaikal territories by Katherine the Great, they have still preserved that life style since then, in the taiga you are also expected to meet Tungus people who are traditional reindeer-breeders and hunters for fur animals. You will also visit the town of Kakhta, you will see Lake Baikal and learn about the basic economic enterprises of the region. The film will be interesting to all who want to enjoy a closer acquaintance with this unique region of Russia.
ETHNOGEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Russian region to host international Old Believer festival

Ulan-Ude, January 25, Interfax - The Russian republic of Buryatia will play host on May 30 - June 3, 2007, to a planned international festival of Old Believers, followers of an Orthodox Christian movement that has rejected 17th-century reforms in the Russian Orthodox Church.
The reforms rejected by the Old Believers were ritual and textual innovations aimed at achieving uniformity between Russian and Greek Orthodox practices. They were introduced in 1652 by the then head of the Russian Church, Patriarch Nikon.
The festival, to be styled "Meeting of Old Believers of the World," would comprise events in the Buryat capital Ulan-Ude and other parts of the republic designed to maintain and promote all the religious and cultural traditions of the Old Believers, the Buryat government said.
The festival's program includes the fifth international conference entitled "Old Believer Movement: Its History and Present, Its Local Traditions, and Its Russian and Foreign Contacts," a children's festival of Old Believer songs, traditional competition games, exhibitions, and presentations of tourist itineraries.
The foundation stone will be laid during the festival for a church and memorial signs will be put up along a route traversed in the trans-Baikal area by Archpriest Avvakum, a famous 17th-century Old Believer leader.
Preparations for the festival are to include the publication of an album on Old Believer history and culture and a video film.
"This event should become an important consolidating factor in the cultural development of the Old Believers and a celebration for the entire population of Buryatia," the Buryat government said.

Interfax: Religion: News

ВСТРЕЧА СТАРООБРЯДЦЕВ МИРА «ПУТЬ АВВАКУМА» ПРОЙДЕТ В БУРЯТИИ
Улан-Удэ, 6 марта 2007 г.

Встреча старообрядцев мира «Путь Аввакума» пройдет в Бурятии с 30 мая по 3 июня под эгидой ЮНЕСКО. В рамках этого мероприятия планируется проведение пятой международной научно-практической конференции «Старообрядчество: история и современность. Российские и зарубежные связи». Как отметил на расширенном заседании оргкомитета заместитель председателя правительства по развитию социальной сферы Степан Ефимов, для проведения встречи на достойном уровне необходимо выделить из республиканского бюджета еще 6,7 млн. рублей, сообщает сайт «Восток-Телеинформ»
По его словам, на приглашение принять участие во встрече старообрядцев уже прислали положительные ответы представители республик Коми и Алтай, Читинской области, также ожидается приезд участников из США, Австралии, Румынии, Чехии, Польши, Японии, Латвии, Украины и Казахстана.
«Уже разработана культурная часть мероприятия, ответственным за это выбран республиканский центр народного творчества. Мы проведем гала-концерт фольклорного фестиваля «Раздайся, корогод!». Во встрече примут участие все районы Бурятии. В Посольске и Тарбагатае будут заложены камни - в начале пути протопопа Аввакума по Забайкалью, также в Улан-Удэ будет заложен камень на месте возведения храма Рождества»,- отметил Степан Ефимов.
Кроме того, ко времени проведения встречи будут выпущены фотоальбом «Старообрядцы Забайкалья» и вторая часть хрестоматии по истории семейских в Забайкалье. Разрабатывается туристический маршрут «Тропа Аввакума».
На проведение встречи в республиканском бюджете заложено 7 млн. 335 тыс. рублей. Но как пояснил Ефимов, этой суммы не хватит «для проведения мероприятия на уровне прошлогодней «Алтарганы», которую все очень высоко оценили».
«Надо увеличить сумму на 6, 7 млн. рублей - на проживание и питание, помощь местным администрациям и покупку призов», - подчеркнул Степан Ефимов.
Как отметил президент Бурятии Леонид Потапов, встреча старообрядцев мира - одно из крупных событий и провести его необходимо на очень высоком уровне.
«По финансам, я думаю, Народный Хурал нас поддержит. И надо выходить на спонсоров. Я готов сам подписать письма к ним - думаю, никто не откажет», - подчеркнул президент.

Source: pravoslavie.ru/news

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Eventful - Ulan-Ude Events - The Meeting of Old Believers of the World "The Avvakum's Path" at Ulan-Ude & different locations in Buryatia

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permanent link:

International Festival of Old Believers in Buryatia
http://artjunction.blogspot.com/2007/03/international-festival-of-old-believers.html