Molokans in Armenia

Origins and Beliefs of the Molokans

The Molokans (from the Russian word moloko, meaning "milk," or "dairy-eaters") are a Russian spiritual-Christian sect that emerged from Eastern Orthodoxy in the Eastern Slavic lands.

Their customs, including the consumption of dairy products during Christian fasts, differed from those of the Russian Orthodox Church, leading them to be labeled as heretics or sectarians. The term "Molokan" is an exonym used by neighboring Orthodox communities. The Molokans themselves typically refer to themselves as "spiritual Christians."

Molokanism began to gain followers in the 18th century in the regions of Tambov, Saratov, Voronezh, and Astrakhan. Various Russian rulers took steps to relocate the Molokans, primarily to control religious movements and settle new territories.

Under Catherine the Great (1762–1796), persecution of the Molokans began, including their exile to remote regions. However, the policy shifted, and later in her reign, Catherine encouraged voluntary resettlement, offering seeds and livestock to help populate new lands.

Under Alexander I (1801–1825), Molokans petitioned for freedom of worship. Alexander I issued a decree granting them certain religious freedoms, which allowed them to migrate to southern regions, including the Caucasus.

Under Nicholas I (1825–1855), this relocation policy continued, with Molokans being granted exemption from military service for fifty years if they moved to the Caucasus.

Natalya Maksimovna has just poured us tea from the samovar. Several years ago, Mikhail and Natalia Rudometkin opened a guesthouse that offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience Molokan culture and way of life.

By the early 19th century, Molokanism was declared by the imperial authorities as a "particularly harmful heresy," which justified their exile from central Russia to the southern regions and newly acquired lands in the Caucasus. The authorities' goal was to eliminate religious dissent in the central provinces while using the Molokans to colonize and Russify the new territories.

Molokan Settlements in Armenia

In Soviet times, there were about 30 Molokan villages in Armenia. Notable Molokan settlements include Yelenovka (Sevan) founded in 1835, Nikitino (Fioletovo) in 1842, Vorontsovka (Tashir) in 1846, and Voskresenka (Lermontovo) in 1847. Today, Fioletovo is fully populated by Molokans, while Lermontovo remains partially settled. There are also communities in Yerevan and Dilijan.

Fioletovo is one of the largest Molokan settlements in Armenia. Mixed marriages are discouraged here, and the Molokans have managed to create a small "Russia" within Armenia, preserving their faith, language, and traditions. Today, Fioletovo is a popular tourist destination, largely due to the Rudometkin guesthouse. Managed by Mikhail and Natalia Rudometkin, the guesthouse offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience Molokan culture and way of life. Services include culinary workshops where visitors can learn to cook traditional Molokan dishes, as well as bed and breakfast accommodations, allowing guests to enjoy a comfortable stay while immersing themselves in Molokan culture.

With Ross in Molokan village Fioletovo, he just bought varenye and looks very happy

Distinctive Features of the Molokan Community

Molokans, as they are referred to by locals, base their beliefs on words from the second chapter of Peter's Epistle, where the consumption of pure milk is permitted as a form of spiritual sustenance. This principle became the foundation of their faith. In Russian, the expression "verbal milk" also refers to spiritual nourishment.

Molokans were long persecuted in Russia as schismatics and heretics. They do not venerate saints, do not worship crosses or icons, and do not make the sign of the cross. They reject the ecclesiastical hierarchy. Their observance of Christian holidays is also distinctive: they celebrate Easter but do not recognize Christmas. Their interpretation of fasting allows the consumption of milk, which, according to one theory, explains the origin of their name. Pork and alcohol are strictly prohibited.

The Molokan community is characterized by its strict separation from the outside world. Members of the community rarely interact with non-Molokans, and marriages are only allowed within the community. This isolation has allowed the Armenian Molokans to preserve their Slavic ethnic identity and Russian language, albeit with some regional variations.

Molokans are known for their hardworking and conscientious nature, viewing labor as an essential aspect of a dignified life. Smoking and drunkenness are condemned, and alcohol is strictly forbidden. They prefer to drink compote and tea, the latter served in the traditional Russian manner using a samovar and special towels to wipe away sweat.

Molokans primarily engage in agriculture (growing vegetables, particularly cabbage) and livestock farming (cattle and sheep). There are no kindergartens in their villages. Families are typically large, with 7-8 children. Divorce and abortion are not permitted. The only holiday they observe is Easter, while schoolchildren celebrate the New Year, though without the same festive atmosphere found in Russia.

A book about Molokans written by Ruben Mangasaryan and Mark Grigoryan

Molokan Lifestyle and Culture

The appearance of Molokans has changed little since the 19th century: men still wear shirts untucked with long beards, while women wear headscarves and long skirts, donning embroidered garments on holidays. In the Molokan community, divorce is considered unacceptable and equated with adultery, leading to the excommunication of divorced individuals.

The spiritual leader of the community is the presbyter, whose approval is necessary for making any significant decisions. Instead of churches, the Molokans gather in prayer houses, where prayers and hymns are read and sung on Saturdays and Sundays. Entertainment is deemed inappropriate as it leads to moral degradation. Secular literature is not encouraged, unlike spiritual texts such as the Old and New Testaments, or works by Maxim Rudometkin, a 19th-century spiritual leader of the Molokans.