Religion. Buryatia. Tour to Buryatia.
WELCOME TO BURYATIA
RELIGION
The professed religions on the territory of Buryatia
Buryatia is the territory where not only ancient heathen religion- shamanism and
all other world religions are represented either. The most widely spread are
Christianity and Buddhism, also their versions and branches and less spread is
Islam religion. Religion syncretism is typical for Buryatia, its appearance is
connected to the history of relations of different peoples, influence of
religions cultures brought here and also their rather peaceful character.
The life of the region was rich in historic events, interesting was the history
of development of religions systems, some elements of which have been inherited
from ancient times. The part of these elements was formed on the local ground
during social, economic and cultural development, the others were borrowed from
neighbouring peoples and some were brought in the result of religion missions
and expansions. Since ancient time cults have existed here, some of them have
been kept to present days, also the system of polytheism (many deities) was
developed and expressed itself brightly in the form of Buryat shamanism
Shamanism The first religions ideas appeared among local tribes 40-30 thousand
years BC/ They were represented in shamanism dominating until coming of
Christianity (Orthodoxy) and Buddhism.
Special sacral importance of Baikal lake and vast territory around it were the
reason of giving them special status " Ikh-Khorig" –a saint Land of ancestors
during the epoch of Chingis-Khan.
Orthodoxy came to Zabaykalye more than 350 years ago. Its carriers were Russian
settlers who were followed by Orthodox missioners in Zabaykalye.
In the XVIII century first representatives of dissident Christian Church-ancient
Orthodoxy (staroobryadchestvo- old believers, came to Zabaykalye: Here they got
the name " Semeyskye" (family's)
Buddhism in the form of Lamanism came to Zabaykalye from Mongolia and Tibet. It
has been existing here as an officially admitted by Russian State religion for
about 260 years, however, its coming to Zabaykalye, the building of first cult
constructions and Buddhist tempel referred to earlier period. Baikal Lake became
an original natural border of spreading Buddhism to the west. Buryatia became
the centre of Buddhism in Russia, at the same time Buddhism was spread in Tuva,
Kalmykia and Altay.
The relations of religions in different period were not the same. There were
periods in the history of this area when expansion of Christianity and Buddhism
ousted shamanism completely from social life, but many elements of cult
shamanism were introduced in Buddhism. There were also periods of competition
between Orthodoxy and Buddhism for parishioners. In this time Orthodox church
used rather strict measures involving official authorities. It caused the
appearance of such phenomenon as double worshipping' (dvoebozhie) when local
population prophessed simultaneously Buddhism and Christianity, or Christianity
and Shamanism in some places there was even triple worshipping But also there
were periods of cooperation.
Different were the relations between official authorities and religion. In the
epoch of shamanism shamans were not only spiritual leaders they were also
leaders of tribes. Before October Revolution the government of Russia approved
and supported efforts of Orthodox Church in introduction of Christianity among
Buryat people. At the same time it was loyal to Buddhism and other confessions.
In 1917 there were 44 datsans (Buryat temples0, 211 Orthodox churches, 81 old
believers' prayful houses, 7 Jewish sinogogues, 6 Muslim mosques, 5 baptist
communities and 1 Catholic Church on the territory of Buryatia.
The Soviet power conducted aggressive policy concerning all trends and branches
of religion, it resulted in the fact that in 20s, 30s of the XXth century a
major part of Orthdox and Buddhist priests were repressed and churches, datsans,
sinagogues, mosques and a catholic church were closed, reconstructed or
destroyed.
The restoration of temples began in Buryatia after the Great Patriotic War but
especially active it was in the last decades. Nowadays real renaissance takes
place in Buryatia. There appeared Moslems, catholics, jewishes, Protestants,
baptists, Adventists and representatives of other religion trends who peacefully
coexist with each other.
Churches of old believers have been built. Shamanism also revives quickly
Peaceful coexistence of religions is one of the conditions of quiet
social-political situation in the Republic.
The Buryat population mainly professes Buddthism. While some of its
representatives take part in rituals of shamanism. Russian population, the
Ukrainians, the Byelorussians mainly profess Christianity. Representatives of
other nationalities profess Islam.
One of the peculirities of Buryatia is respect of people of different
nationalities to Shaman, Buddhist or Christian saint relics.
In the republic now function 16 Buddhist datsans, 12 Buddhist societies, 17
Orthodox temples and parishes, 7 ancient Orthodox communities, more than 20
religions sects, trends and other autonomous interpretations. A Catholic Church
is being built in Ulan-Ude now. The association of Buddhist laymen and national
Academy of Buddhist Culture have been founded. In Ulan-Ude function a Christian
community of baptists and Adventists of the seventh day, also the community "
The Consciousness of Krishna" and " Bakhai" In the town of severobaykalsk the
church of Christians of Evangelical Belief (fiftiers) have been opened. The
tempel complex of Stupa of Dzharun Khashor uniting various trends of Buddhism
was founded and consecrated in 1991 in the village of Kizhinga.
Significant growth of a number of new religions units is promoted by common rise
of religion life both in Russia and in Buryatia and there are positive steps in
legislation giving wide rights to believers.
Official site of the national Agency for tourism
PAGES OF THE PICTURE ALBUM
|
Tour to Buryatia
St. Petersburg
