The Orthodoxy

 The Orthodoxy spread in Buryatia more than three hundred and fifty years ago with the arrival of Russian Cossacks. Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya church in Barguzin fort was the first orthodox church to be built. In 17th century the Orthodox mission, the first in the history of Siberia arrived to Transbaikalia. Svyato-Troitsky Selenginsky and Spaso Preobrazhensky Posolsky monasteries were founded. The Posolsky monastery became the center of the Selenginsky episcopate. The ensemble of Posolsky monastery is an outstanding example of Siberian architecture. It was the first stone cathedral of Transbaikalia “a marvelous masterpiece of Siberian baroque”. Mission offices, schools were founded and publication of religious literature was initiated. The main task of the mission was to spread Christianity in the region including indigenous population. Thus some part of the Buryat people of Transbaikalia was baptized. Mixed marriages between the Russian and the Buryat also facilitated the spread of Christianity. Odigitrievsky Cathedral and Svyato-Troitsky churches were built in Verkhneudinsk. Verkhneudinski and Kyakhtinsky merchants who dealt in trading tea with China rendered great help for the construction of orthodox churches. Several churches with outstanding architecture and rich interior were built with their donations.
At the moment orthodox churches are being reconstructed, the number of parishioners is growing. Annually religious processions, public prayers are held. The history of Orthodox belief in Buryatia is a part of the history of the Russian Orthodox church. The history is rich in events and is of great interest. Today, Orthodox churches in Buryatia are open to everyone. One can order a prayer, receive communion, get blessing and go through the purification ritual.
In the 18th century, representatives of orthodox Christians, who didn’t agree with church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon, split from New Orthodoxy. They were prosecuted by the government and were exiled to Transbaikalia. They built praying houses to carry out services. They are known as old believers and in Buryatia they were called “semeiskye” (derived from a Russian word “family”), since they were forced to move to Siberia with whole families.
This is the only group of the Russian people who had preserved the old, pre-Peter the Great mode of life, typical of 17th century Russia. The Old believers arrived to Buryatia in the second half of the 18th century. They belonged to the third wave of Russians who moved to Siberia and Transbaikalia. The first were the Cossacks, then came merchants and peasants who were freed from the serfdom, orthodox missionaries and political prisoners. These representatives of the Russian people are traditionally called Siberians. The Old Believers lived by themselves and are distinguished by their hardwork, strict adherence to old customs and different restrictions. It might be due to this lifestyle, they had managed to survive under severe natural conditions and preserve their unique culture. Old believers had the strongest impact on the economic development of the region. They cultivated previously infertile lands and turned Transbaikalia into the “bread barn” of Siberia. They managed to preserve their religious rituals, though most of their churches were destroyed.
Today, Russia experiences the revival of spiritual and cultural life of Semeyskiy. Communes and cultural centers deliver their services to spread and preserve their traditions, new churches are being built. Visits to Old Believers villages are popular among tourists.