Molokan History Lecture

Sat Aug 12, 2003 -- 11 am to 3 pm

Slauson Ave Cemetery Chapel

Dr. Breyfogle, a history professor from Ohio State University, will speak to Molokans summarizing his years of Russian sectarian research, and answer questions. He'll use maps to explain sectarian history from 1800 to 1900, especially how we got from Central Russia (Tambov) to the Milky Waters, then to the Transcaucasus. Breyfogle will introduce himself and explain how he got interested in this topic. He will summarize his Ph.D. thesis, Heretics and Colonizers: Religious dissent and Russian colonization of Transcausasia, 1830-1890 (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia), and add new research, not yet published, on the Molokan resistance to the military draft in Russia and the Molokan involvement in the Crimean War and the Russo-Turkish war. Then he will summarize his notes on Priguny and Maksim Rudometkin. Breyfogle has examined Molokan documents in 6 archives for more than a year, and has seen most all of Bonch-Bruevich's collection, much of which is from American Molokans and never published. Questions and answers will follow.

ALL are invited. No Charge. FREE. The chapel building seats 150. Location: The Russian Molokan Cemetery Association, 7201 E. Slauson Ave (I-5, Garfield exit, south), City of Commerce. For further directions, telephone: 213-724-3984.

Why at the cemetery? Because it's neutral territory. A number of churches could have hosted him, but this is a politically free zone for us where most all are willing to meet. And the Cemetery Association is glad to host this informative event.

Ethel Dunn, from the Highgate Road Social Science Reach Station, Berkeley CA will also attend, but is not a featured speaker. She would enjoy meeting her Molokan friends in LA again, and meeting new people. She is almost finished with the Zheltov/Tolsoty translation, and needs funds to publish. Did you know that Zheltov was arrested and shot by the Communists for his Molokan beliefs? He is an unknown Molokan stadalits [martyr].

If you can't make it check Molokan NEWS in a few weeks. I'll post a summary of what happened. This lecture may be taped. More info about audio tapes next week. He's planning to visit again. Perhaps we can host a history conference and invite more speakers, but someone has to take the leadership position, to plan the event and open a building.

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