Kerzhak is a representative of the Old Believers, a bearer of the culture of the peoples of Northern Russia. At the beginning of the XVII century, after the original habitats of Kerzhaks in the Nizhny Novgorod lands were defeated by adherents of the new faith, they massively went to the East.
Historical roots
Kerzhaki is a follower of the Old Believers or Old Orthodoxy, which is characterized by a combination of peculiar religious movements that arose in the Russian Orthodox Church after the church reform of Patriarch Nikon and Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. They rejected the changes introduced in religious principles that unified worship with the traditions of the Greek and Constantinople churches.
This reform caused a deep schism in the Russian church. Supporters of the old faith began to be called schismatics (Old Believers, Old Believers) with all the ensuing negative consequences for them.
Based on the history of the Old Believers, it follows that it originates from the moment Vladimir baptized ancient Russia. The main event for them was the creation of an autonomous Russian local church in the middle of the 15th century, when Russian bishops elected their metropolitans without the participation of representatives of Constantinople. Another important milestone for the Old Believers is the local one-hundred-headed cathedral in the middle of the 16th century, which proclaimed the independence of the Russian Orthodox Church and decided to elect its patriarch.
Kerzhaki - who is this? Unrest
The Old Believers finally formed as a religious movement in the 17th century after all the priests of the old ordination died. At the same time, the Old Believers did not recognize the priests of the new church charters, began to conduct their services without them. In history, they are usually called "bespopovtsami", since they conduct all religious rites with the so-called secular rank, without the presence of representatives of the clergy.
Initially, the bespopovtsy, trying to isolate themselves and maintain their faith, began to settle in uninhabited places. Such regions included: the coast of the White Sea (Old Believers - Pomors); Olonets outskirts (modern Karelia); Nizhny Novgorod lands near the Kerzhenets river (Old Believers - Kerzhaks). As such, Kerzhak has no nationality.
The meaning of the word “Kerzhak” is an Old Believer living in the area of the Kerzhanets (Kerzh) River, a representative of a large ethnographic group of Russian Old Believers.
Subsequently, as a result of ongoing persecution and persecution by the authorities and the church, they left for the Urals. After they started moving to Siberia, Altai and the Far East. In fact, they were the first Russian-speaking residents of Siberia and the east of Russia. At the same time, Kerzhaks led a closed public life with their religious rules and unchanging cultural traditions. Among the Old Believers, the new inhabitants of Siberia, Kerzhaks stood out especially. They constituted a certain caste of Siberian and Altai masons. Opposed themselves to later settlers in Siberia. But in the future, due to their common origin, they gradually assimilated with them.
Somewhat later, the name “Kerzhaks” passed to all the Old Believers who settled outside the Urals.
The number of Kerzhakov-Old Believers currently
Currently, due to the serious influence on the lifestyle of the Old Believers, the Old Believers of the Soviet transformations, including collectivization, the imposition of atheism, dispossession and industrialization processes, the bulk of the Kerzhakov Old Believers have departed from their traditions. They scattered throughout Russia, and moved abroad.
According to the census of the Russian Federation in 2002, only eighteen people identified themselves as true Kerzhaks.
It is possible that there are much more real descendants of the ancient Kerzhaks and adherents of the old faith. There is evidence that their small groups live completely apart in the distant and deaf Siberian and Altai “back streets”. As the Lykov family that became known relatively recently.
There is information that their settlements still exist outside of Russia.
Features of faith
In their religious views, Kerzhaks were distinguished by the fact that in addition to faith in the Orthodox Holy Trinity, they followed traditions that recorded the presence of more ancient worldviews. They believed in brownies, goblin, water, etc. Numerous secret ancient rites took place in everyday life. When taking dishes from the wrong hands, it had to be crossed. This was done to expel evil spirits. Bath baths after washing must be turned over to prevent the introduction of bath devils in them.
Their icons in every possible way protected from appeal to them by representatives of the new, after Nikon, Orthodox faith.
Carrying out prayers, they strictly observed Old Believer traditions. Kerzhaks were baptized, like their predecessors by faith, with two rings.
Prayer accompanied them in the morning, only after it was possible to eat and work. Before going to bed, the Kerzhak did this necessarily (read a prayer).
Kerzhak marriages were allowed only with representatives of a common faith with them.
Food Kerzhakov
In food, Old Believers preferred old recipes. Traditionally, sour cabbage soup was used as food for kvass, seasoned with barley grits. Other cereals, turnips, were actively used, from which a large number of different dishes were prepared.
Historians report that Kerzhaks observed posts very carefully and peculiarly. So, at this time, pies were prepared from fish, which was used without gutting, only cleaned from scales.
Since the beginning of the Great Lent, Kerzhaks used fresh greens, shoots of field horsetail (colza), and nuts collected in the forest. During the summer haymaking, we prepared rye kvass, which was used to make okroshka, ate it with radish and berries.
Engaged in Kerzhaki and harvesting food for the winter. Berries were harvested in large quantities. Soaked in tubs lingonberries, which was consumed with honey. The wild leek was fermented, which went to food along with bread and kvass. Salted and fermented mushrooms, cabbage. Kerzhak hemp seeds were the main food supplement. They were crushed, added to honey, water, consumed with bread. They made hemp oil.
Work days
Agriculture was the main occupation of Kerzhaks. They grew crops, a variety of vegetables. Hemp cultivation was popular. Among animals, preference was given to sheep and goats. In Altai, learned to breed marals. Old Believers Kerzhaks in trade successfully proved. Their livestock products, various products of their maral horns, and also healing tinctures from them were popular.
Kerzhaks were skilled in a variety of crafts. Particular preference was given to weaving, making carpets, sewing clothes. Their products are known as souvenirs, various accessories. Hemp found wide application in the Kerzhak economy, which went into production entirely. So, burlap was made from stalks, oil was pressed from hemp seeds. Kerzhaks are skilled beekeepers, as well as carpenters and stove makers.
Family device
Families of the Old Believers were mostly large. Their average number was 18-20 people. These were representatives of three generations. Kerzh families were famous for their strong foundations. The head, the eldest in the family, was a man - a big man. His assistant was a wife (bolsheha). The last obeyed all daughters-in-law. Young and daughter-in-law were required to ask her permission to carry out any business. Such a role was assigned to them until a child appeared, or a young family did not leave to live separately.
The children’s upbringing among the Kerzhaks was distinguished by the fact that from the very childhood they tried to instill in the young generation a love of work, respect for adults, and patience. Children were not forced to shout, mainly tried to use proverbs, tales, jokes, parables, etc.
Kerzhakov dwellings, life
Old Believers lived in chopped huts, which had gable roofs, rafters. Fellings were made, according to traditional Russian rules, from intersecting logs. They built houses soundly, hoping that they will survive for several centuries. Huts and courtyards adjacent to them were fenced with a wooden fence. The gate in the fence is two boards, one on the inside and the other on the outside. To get into or out of the yard, you had to climb one at a time, and then go down the second, and vice versa.
There is historical evidence that Kerzhaks sometimes erected houses in which the yards were completely covered.
The interior of the hut was a diverse picture and depended on wealth. The main items of household utensils were beds, tables, chairs, tables. Mandatory red corner. In it was a deity with icons. Its location is strictly in the southeast corner of the room. Books, ladders (Old Believers rosary) were folded under it.
Not all huts had cupboards, things were hung on the walls. Stoves were placed in a corner, indented from the wall. Kerzhaks did this to protect against fires. Had oven holes that were used to dry things. Regular in the houses were shelves, cabinets designed to store dishes. Houses were lit with kerosene lamps or torches.
Beauty and purity for the Kerzhakov Old Believers are synonyms. The mud in the hut is a shame for the hostess. General cleaning was carried out on Saturdays. At the same time, the whole tree was rubbed with sand to return the smell of wood to the room.
After the stranger left the house, the floors were necessarily washed, the door handles were wiped. Guests were intended for separate dishes.
Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene has led to the fact that Kerzhaks differed in decent health. There is no information on epidemics in their epidemic villages.
Kerzhaks were rather kind to fire and water. The surrounding nature in their understanding was considered holy. They believed that fire could cleanse the body and renew the soul. They also had healing springs, which they hid from strangers. It was unacceptable to pour dirty water into the river, to take out and throw out garbage. Over the threshold, it was possible to pour water, which was used to clean the icons, since it was considered purified.
