Portraits of Belief #22 - Old Believer Mayor

Artist: DJ Furth Edition: 1/1 This man is a former mayor of his village Bolshoy Kunaley outside of Ulan-Ude, home to a branch of the Orthodox faith called the Semeiskie, commonly known as Old Believers. Old Believers are a group who practice Russian Orthodox tradition as it was prior to reforms in the mid-17th century. They fled to Siberia to escape persecution and are known for their strict form of beliefs, hard-working nature, vibrant clothing and homes and unique polyphonic singing choirs performed by groups in unison. He explains the resilience and nature of the Semeiskie people, “We are very stubborn. We always live with hope for better times. No matter how difficult it gets,...View all