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The Old Believers
For centuries Old Believers (staroverets, raskolnik) have lived in the shores of Lake Peipsi. They are the people who are Russian orthodox believers who support the old religion and its rites and do not recognize the Church reform of Patriarch Nikon carried out in 1653-1656 causing changes in the rites and liturgical texts.
The members of the church who did not recognize the new developments introduced by the church reform were anathemized and with the Czar’s ukase of 1685 were outlawed. The Old Believers were forced to flee to the far-off provinces of the Russian Empire or abroad, including the Baltic countries. The first Old Believers reached Estonia at the end of the 17th century. Until today their ancient cultural traditions and the archaic way of life have been preserved. Several museums devoted to the life and habits of Old Believers have been opened.
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