%0 Journal Article
%T The Churches were Opened and Lots of Missionaries Arrived: Dialogue between Komi Identity and Faith
%A Art Leete
%A Piret Koosa
%J Folklore : Electronic Journal of Folklore
%D 2012
%I Estonian Literary Museum, Estonian Folklore Institute
%X The Komi people in northern Russia tend to consider the Russian Orthodox faith as a natural part of their lives and self-image. During recent decades different Protestant churches have spread intensively over the Republic of Komi. Although the Protestants constitute a small minority of the local population, theyplay a major role in initiating discussion concerning ethnic traditions, identity and the freedom to select a faith. The local population¡¯s predominant approach to religious issues is blurred, although they tend to prefer the Russian Orthodox faith, albeit without frequenting church ceremonies. This pro-Orthodox standis grounded on loyalty to ancestors and ethnic traditions. We take the process of religious change among the Komis as a starting point from which to discuss issues of individual and collective identity, and the variability and stability of people¡¯s self-understanding as well as understanding of the Other.
%K the Komis
%K Protestant
%K Russian Orthodox
%K individual identity
%K collective identity
%U http://folklore.ee/folklore/vol51/leete_koosa.pdf