Naiste religioosne agentsus Eestis asuvate vene vanausuliste koguduste näitel
Women’s religious agency on the example of Russian Old Believer communities in Estonia

Summary/Abstract: This article explores ways in which women navigate their agency within the conser­vative religious context of Russian Old Belief. Specifically, it examines four closely situ­ated congregations in Kasepää, Suur-Kolkja, Varnja (Pomortsy), and Väike-Kolkja (Fedoseevtsy) in Peipsimaa, based on fieldwork conducted between 2020 and 2021. In the Old Belief tradition, women are barred from leadership roles or preaching; however, they often assume duties traditionally reserved for men. Furthermore, Old Believer communities in Estonia, which tend to have a higher proportion of women than men, rely heavily on women to uphold religious practices. Women’s agency within Old Believer communities does not primarily involve gaining more religious knowledge or higher status. The demographic composition of a religious community is shaped by external economic, political, and social factors. Women, who often lead congregations due to their familiarity with religious tradition and service capabilities, face additional challenges in navigating their religious practices, such as restrictions on reading the Gospel at services or baptizing children. Importantly, the Old Believers’ “culture of exceptions” does not entail flouting essential religious rules; rather, it seeks solutions that are consistent with ritual semantics and acceptable within their religious framework.

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