2 September 1998

NOVOSIBIRSK. A search for fellow believers in Siberia is being conducted by Antonina Pushkareva, a Molokan from San Francisco. Molokans, or "Spiritual Christians" as they sometimes call themselves, are adherents of the teachings of their founder, Semen Uklein, which arose in the second half of the eighteenth century in Tambov province.

The basic elements of their faith include a transfer to the spiritual plane of the essential ecclesiastical rituals. Thus they consider that instruction in the word of God is true spiritual baptism and there is no necessity of performing baptism by immersion in water. Reading of holy scripture replaced the rite of the eucharist or communion. Veneration of saints and icons was forbidden.

Molokans were subjected to persection for their convictions by both the state and Orthodoxy.

In present-day Russia the number of Molokan communities is small. In the main they are located in the central European portion of the country: in Tambov, Saratov, Samara, and Voronezh.

In conversation with a Radiotserkov reporter, Antonina Pushkareva said that at the present time vangelistic activity among Molokans is undeveloped although there was last year in Tambov a congress of Molokans which adopted the decision to renew preaching activity among the general population.

As regards the forms of worship of Molokan communities in emigration, Antonina said that they have preserved their tradition. In meetings, the men and women sit separately and the women dress in a conservative Russian fashion, a long skirt, lace jacket, and an obligatory head covering. The leaders of the meetings--presbyters, "discussants" and "narrators," sit around a table. The responsibility of the discussant" includes explanation of the text of holy scripture and the "narrators" recite for the signers the verses of psalms to perform.

Antonina Pushkareva is in Siberia for the first time and she plans to cooperation with the Novosibirsk public organization "Women Together" to organize a ministry of aid to children's homes. (tr. by PDS)

English text at: http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/9809b.html#08