Molokans Around the World

Donald Shubin, in the News Added Dec 13
2001 October 4 — Trash strike skips Tustin — UNION: At least for the time-being, the city's waste haulers are on the job— The Tustin News — "Federal Disposal owner Don Shubin said ... "At this time, we're escaping the problems of the strike because we currently are non-union," ..

Shoobs' Homepage Added Dec 13
Josh Shubin born in Escondido. Graduated San Marcos High School in '99. ... surf scene .. snowboarding and skating. ... Embry Riddle, Prescott, Arizona. ... best aviation school in the country. .. private pilot's license on December 21, 1999. .. Multi Engine Instrument rating. Lots of pictures.

Molokans Singing in Jail Added Dec 13
2001 Spring — Roots and Fruit, No. 7 — Civilian Public Service— One Phase — by Charles W. Baker — Being jailed in 1946 ... the singing of the Russian Molokans. How eerie and also heartening sound behind the bars. Spirit reigns, Molokans, ... from ... Fresno area, Phoenix, Los Angeles. ... The Molokans, an obscure sect, as non-war people were a part of Civilian Public Service (Conscientious Objectors) during World War II. Of the approximate 12,000 inducted into CPS there were 76 Molokans, ...John Tolstoy ... died in CPS.

Molokans in the Genocide Added Dec 12
Genocide Facts — The Armenian Terrorism Against the Turks — Armenians followed the policy of annihilation of all the Turks in the Southern-Caucasus. In April of 1918 they smashed up 82 villages in Gars [Kars]. Armenians committed unseen violences in Turkish areas seized by Armenian Republic. They burst into Chakhmag [Chakmak], Yukhary Kotanly, Ashagy Ko-tanly, Oluklu, Kamarly, Tuzluja, Vujuklu, Subhanazad, Igdir, Javlak, Garajayir, Pasly and other villages in the north of Gars [Kars], and neighbouring Molokan ones, committed massacres and robberies. Molokans who willingly helped Armenian terrorists in She-makha and Lankharan [Lenkoran] were also pursued by them and asked Turkey border troops for help as Turks did.

Molokan Cow in Turkey Added Dec 12
1997 July — Rome — The United Nations for Agriculture — World-wide list of Monitoring for the Diversity of the Domestic Animals — List of Missing Species — "This is a list of the species registered likely to disappear, by region and species ... Turkey, Molokan Cow (Bovino Malakan) stems from the Ukrainian Grey." We first found references to the Molokan dairy cow and Molokan horse while translating the source material for the up coming Molokan Heritage Collection, Volume II: Molokans in Turkey.

2 Molokan groups in Moldova Added Dec 12
2000 June 29 — Official Report by the Republic of Moldova on the Implementation of the Framework Convention for the protection of National Minorities (MS-Word.doc) — "The creation of favourable conditions for the functioning of religious bodies is a factor in their increased numbers. 18 State-recognised religious bodies currently operate in Moldova. The most important of these are:
# 14. the Union of Communities of Molokan Religious Christians, two communities."

Russian Molokan Melody Added Dec 12
Music for School Orchestra, Chorus and Double Bass — Northfield Press — Choral Music — Paul and Barnabus: Russian Molokan Melody — composed by William Rich — SATB Chorus and Piano. Listen to the MID sound file, but you'll have to join MSNuser.com to get the sheet music.
More from LucksMusic: What's new for 2002???
PAUL & BARNABUS (RICH) (ME) — Based on a Russian Molokan Melody. Molokans are Russian Christians who emigrated to California to escape persecution. Singing was a very important part of their musical tradition. Some of the characteristics that defined their style are incorporated into this work such as 'call & response' canonic effects and rough-hewn harmonies. #59541.

Molokan whirl dance? Added Dec 12
World History of the Dance — by Curt Sachs — "In Europe we have the "loss of self" motif clearly illustrated in the whirl dances of the Russians sects of the Molokani in Armenia....All the countries that bordered the Meditteranean in ancient times, and the less remote sections of Asia as well, appear to have had whirl dances."

Lost Relatives: "Sutremin" Family Added Dec 12
"My ancestors on mother's side were (supposedly) minor landlords, "starovery - molokane". Sutreminy from either Tambov or Tver area. Before the revolution of 1917 they were deprived of all their estate and sent to exile to Baku, Azerbaijan. All my attempts to trace any information about this family name has been futile so far. Era N."

Molokan Garden in Song "Baku" Added Dec 12
From CD of Leyla va Dayirman group — translated into English by Farida Aghayeva — put on the Web by Farida Sadikhova —

"... I never get tired of walking in Baku,
The Boulevard in winter, beach in summer,
Everyday I come to Malakan garden,
Everyday I bow to Martyr's Alley.
I pass the narrow streets of the Old City,
It's the memory of the centuries. ... "

Molokan Farm in Azerbaidjan Added Dec 12
2000 Autumn — Seeds of Change: Transition in Azerbaijan's Agriculture — by Arzu Aghayeva — "The Soviet collective farm [in photo], known as a kolkhoz, found in the Ivanovka village in the Ismayilli region in central Azerbaijan. This kolkhoz is operated by Malakan Russians and during the Soviet period was a model project because of its high production. Photo: Litvin"

Molokane + Khlysti = Mormoni Added Updated Dec 12
2001 — March-April — Photos, Maps, References, Contacts — About a year ago James Scott, a senior at Brigham Young University in Utah, asked me if I knew anything about Molokan-Mormoni. Molokans in Saratov who had several wives and were called Mormons by the local Orthodoxy. There is no connection with the LDS Church in America. For 3 weeks this year James traveled in Russia to see for himself, and check the archives. His full report with photos and maps showing many former villages is posted. Because these "Russian Mormons" pledge secrecy, it is almost impossible for outsiders to find out much. Over 40 villages existed, and there is still an active congregation just north of the city of Saratov. His analysis is that these "Mormons" are a historical hybrid of Khlysti and Molokans. This is also a theory for the formation of the Maksimisti. In the future, local Molokans from our Saratov sobranie may help this research.

Orthodoxy and Gnosticism in Russia Added Dec 10
Orthodoxy and Gnosticism in Russia: The conflict between the Orthodox Church and American missionary groups in the post-Soviet Russia, by Inna Naletova — page 9 — "Gnostics ... are not inclined to discover that human beings ... are inadequate... the fault should be found in the wickedness of the world. ... This attitude also finds its reflection in Russian sectarianism. Among various Russian sectarian groups, Chlysti, Scoptsi and Molokane should be noted as the strongest and the most popular. Each in its own way, they believe in man's pure or divine origin. The Chlisi, for example, are known for their ecstatic celebration of the presence of Christ in each member of heir group. The Molokane, tracing their beliefs back to the ancient time, opposed the Orthodox belief in the nature of Christ as fully divine and fully human: the humanity in God presupposes His imperfection and suffering which seem, in gnostic beliefs, totally unacceptable."

Cultural Diversity in Armenia Added Dec 10
"This web site was developed within the framework of the program "Our Cultural Diversity" with the support of the Department of Cultural Diversity of UNESCO. It aims to represent all the ethnic groups inhabiting Armenia on the ... Internet, as completely as possible. The total number of national minorities living in Armenia makes up 3% of the population."

A town named Malokan in India Added Dec 10
District Jhajjar (Haryana), India — "about eight hundred years ago ... There was a town named Malokan in the east of present Jhajjar city, mostly inhabited by Jats. ... Malokan was also among there ill-fated villages. Having left their homes and belongings, the residents of Malokan started living here and there. ....Brave Chajju Jat, resident of Malokan village made an appeal to Emperor Shabuddin Gori to rehabilitate the village. Malokan village had fought bravely to defend the country against the Goris, probably due to that the emperor rejected the appeal of the residents of Malokan and ordered to rehabilitate the village...."

Letter to you from the Holy Spirit

Updated Jan 8
1998 — Translated letter sent to all American Molokan Jumper-Maksimist congregations from the Clark Ave congregation, La Puente, California (west of Los Angeles). Original Russian grammar is corrected. And the popular "Open Letter" reply. This announcement is similar to the March 31, 1997 declaration by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada that "Reform and Conservative are not Judaism at all"... Molokans don't have the Russian Orthodox Church to battle anymore, so now we fight against each other.

Molokan Refugees Visited in Tula, Russia Added Nov. 27
1993 — Change as Confirmation of Continuity As Experienced by Russian Molokans — by Margarita Mazo, PhD, Ethnomusicologist, Music Department, Ohio State University — In 1992, Dr. Mazo, the only Russian born and trained ethomusicologist at an American university, visits a new Molokan village south of Moscow composed of refugees mainly from Armenia and Georgia. She describes a service with guests from the Molokan Center in Stavropol' and attempts by a young leader to preserve his religious culture after perestroika. Mazo later arranges for Russian and American Molokan singers to meet in America.

American Jumper Community Prayer — December 9 Added Nov. 21
2001 November — American Jumper congregations announce a community prayer for the hand of the guardian angle to protect our people during these times of world crisis. All congregations to hold a special service on Sunday December 9, 2001.

www.ChristianPacifism.com Added Nov. 21
2001 February — The Conflict of Ages: A History and Treatise on the Dichotomy between Military Service and Christian Pacifism — by Daniel H. Shubin — "The purpose of this book is to provide the members of the American Christian Community a codified explanation of the Bible basis to conscientious objection to military service including the vocation in military industries." The book deals with the Old Testament view of warfare, the New Testament teachings of Jesus; the attitude of the early Church toward the military; a history of Christian pacifism from apostolic times to the present, and the present role of the Christian pacifist .... "The primary preceptor of the Russian Molokans was Semeon Matveeich Uklein, who preached from 1760 to 1805 throughout central Russia."... See more books by Shubin.

3,000 Molokans in Armenia in 1999 Added Nov. 21
2001 August 10 — Johnson's Russia List — "... in Armenia ... by 1999 8,000 Russians remained in the country (3,000 of them are Molokan village inhabitants)." ...

Extinction Predicted of Russian Molokans — NOT! Added Nov. 21
1975 April — Comparative Studies in Society and History 17:2, pages 221-237— University of Michigan — Christel Lane, “Socio-Political Accommodation and Religious Decline: The Case of the Molokan Sect in Soviet Society”. The "utopian" society of Molokanis flourished in Tsarist times as the perfect community. During Soviet times it failed to attract new members, and those looking for an alternative world view joined other Western religions, except the Leapers/Jumpers and Maksimisti in the Caucasus. Since 1990, after perestroika, over150 Molokan — Constant (majority), Spiritual, Jumper, and Maksimisti — congregations surfaced in the FSU largely continuing their "sectarian" existence by the force of tradition. But their close-knit community has become more and more difficult to maintain.

All Molokan Holidays Added Updated Nov. 18
The chart shows all the holidays celebrated by all sub-groups of Molokans in Russia and America, that I know about. There are two categories of holidays — Christ's and God's. Every holiday is important, but the Contants and Maksimisti each reject half of our holidays.

What Should a Nurse Feed a Sick Molokan? Added Nov. 9
[PDF File] Culture and Nursing Care: A Pocket Guide — by Lipson, Juliene G — UCSF Nursing Press (University of Califonia, San Francisco): "Three meals a day, lunch the heaviest. Snacks in between with hot tea or fruit. No pork or various shellfish with some Jewish and Molokan Russians."

Russian Church Laws and Molokans Added Oct. 28
2001 — MOST Journal on Multicultural Societies, Vol. 2, No. 2 — "Religious pluralism and national identity in Russia" — by Dr. Alex Agadjanian, Arizona State University — This is the first confirmation I've found that Molokans in Russia are legally okay today. "They [Molokans] are certainly not viewed as bad as the foreign sects especially new religious movements, and the attitude towards them is ambiguous. ... I think they don't have many problems with the new law, but are still treated coldly by the Orthodox Church. The paradox ... is that they really represent very much what the Russian identity is, but at the same time are not as quite 'correct' Russians." Dr. Agadjanian clarifies an oversight in his paper which shows a rank order of religions in Russian today, but omits the sectarians (Molokans, Doukhobors, etc.).

Amazing Corn Field Adventure Added Updated Nov 18
2001 October 26 — Arizona Republic — For a second year Bill and Gracie (Mendrin) Tolmachoff have tried to make some extra money with a Halloween-season corn maze the Amazing Corn Field Adventure. Tolmachoffs claim it's an educational farm experience, but the city of Glendale, Arizona, wants him to get a carnival license.

Where Molokans Traveled in the 1800s Added Updated Oct. 26

1930 — Lands and People has a short description of the Molokans, but some wonderful pictures of the roads. And just as interesting is are the German millenialists, whose prophesies and leader Jung-Stilling was important reading BEFORE the Spirit and Life was published!.

Molokan Church-Building Added Oct. 18
2002 Feb 23— Nicholas Breyfogle (History, Ohio State), will present a new paper: "Prayer and the Politics of Place: Molokan Church-Building, Tsarist Law, and the Quest for a Public Sphere in Late Imperial Russia" at Sacred Stories: Religion and Spirituality in Modern Russian Culture a conference at the University of Illinois, February 23, 2002. The conference is free and open to the public.

Photos of Karakala, Kars Added Oct. 2
Thanks go to Joyce Bivin for supplying these photos and captions. Joyce is an American- Armenian- Molokan who has been exploring her family history for over 10 years.

Molokans in Persia Reported in Book Added Sept. 25
1953 — Light Through the Shadows: The True Life Story of Michael Simonivitch Beitzakhar. This fascinating story is a first-hand report of the life and adventures of a Subbotnik/Adventist minister, from 1914 to 1951, in Persia/Iran and Russia. The last 4 chapters reveal a scandal among the Molokans in Rahmatabad, and a rare picture of dozens of Molokan school kids.

NO TO WAR! Added Sept. 19
We are living in exciting and dangerous times. The September 11th terrorist attack on New York and Washington are examples of this. Herein is a letter which I sent yesterday to Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien concerning this serious situation. In peace, Koozma

Arizona Church Under Sieze Added Updated Jan. 18
2001 — Sept 17 — Monday — The Arizona Pamiat Trub holiday ended in a fist fight — 3 police cars and paramedics. 2 injured. One man taken to the hospital. I was there, a few feet from the shouting which divided the church and escalated these past 2 months. Dukh i Zhizn vs. the Bible. Cowboys vs. the Maksimisti. Read more... All services but 2 since August 12 were stopped by rebels. First court hearing Nov 7.[Also see Solution posted Jan 16.]

Seeking Brazil Molokans & Schetinin history Added Updated Oct. 17
2001 — Sept — Barbara is looking for relatives or information about Molokans who left Kars to Brazil about 1909-10. "My grandparents, Elena and William Schetinin, from Kars were slaves in Brazil diamond mines for 2.5 years and then ran away to Argentina and lived there for 12 years, then came to San Francisco. John W. Schetinin was my uncle, and his son John J. is about 60 and living in the L.A. area. He has 2 sisters, Junie and Vera, about 70 years, also in the L.A. area. All three had lots of children. Some relatives are in San Francisco. I'd like to reconnect." My grandfather William Schetinin was one of the founders of the San Francisco Molokan Church. ... The Potrero Hill Library has a good collection about the SF Molokans.— e-mail to: Barbara Booth-Schetinin

Doukhobor Bean, Poem, Art Added Aug 26
2001 Aug 25 — Thanks to web-sleuth Jon Kalmakoff who is always looking for Doukhobor names:

United Nations Reports No Discrimination Added Aug 24
1996 November 5 — United Nations CCPR — Initial Report of the Republic of Georgia on measures giving effect to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights — "The fact that such cultural and religious minorities as the Molokane and Dukhobors are on the point of disappearing from Georgia is causing the Government special concern. There has recently been a considerable exodus of the most able-bodied and well-off members of these communities to the Russian Federation. Surveys carried out by the Committee for Human Rights and Ethnic Relations among Molokane and Dukhobor communities in the villages of Ul'yanovka (Signakh raion), Krasnogorka (Sagaredzhoi raion) and Gorelovka, Spassovka and Orlovka (Ninotsmind raion) have shown that members of the community are leaving because of the deterioration of the economic situation in the Republic, and not because of any cultural or religious discrimination."

MOLOKANI Added Aug 24
The Probert Encyclopaedia— People and Peoples — The Molokani were a west Russian sect dating from the 16th century who maintained primitive Christian doctrines and practices. In 1905 they were persecuted by the local authorities around the Caucasus.

Raskolniks, Molokani Added Aug 24
New Advent, Caltholic Encyclopedia — Raskolniks — (3) Molokani (Milk-drinkers) said to be so named because they make it a point to drink milk and use other prohibited foods during Lent and fast days, to show their objection to the Orthodox church. They abhor all external ceremonies of religion, but lay stress upon the Bible. They say there is no teacher of the faith but Christ himself, and that we are all priests; and they carry their logic so far as to have neither church nor chapel, simply meeting in one anothers' houses.

Places to go in Box Elder County Added Aug 24
Box Elder News Journal — Tourism — 39. Russian Knoll (colony and cemetery) - This desolate settlement represented religious persecution, hard work, death and failure for a small group of Russian settlers referred to as "Molokani". The group struggled from 1914 to 1916 before abandoning the area. Several of the colonists are buried in the area.

History of Caucasian Molokans & Doukhobors Added Updated Aug 30
2001 Aug 10 — History of Caucasian Molokans and Dukhobors by Ivan Iakov. Sem'onov, President of the Foundation of Help And Assistance to Russian Compatriots in the Republic of Armenia, was just published in August 1 in Erevan, Armenia. Armenian journalist and media analyst Mark Grigorian delivered 7 sample copies to the L.A. presbyter Ivan Tim. Bagdanov at Big Church on Sunday, August 12. Grigorian, a proofreader and editor of this new book, happened to be touring the U.S. with 6 other Armenian journalists who are doing a comprehensive report on America. Luckily, one of the cities he stopped at was L.A. where he could visit a few relatives and hand-deliver these books to the Molokans. Semyononv provides fresh demographic data on Armenian Molokans, lists their hardships, and suggests way to improve their quality of life. If anyone wants to buy a copy let me know. Semyonov says postage to the US is $8, but I'm trying to get some delivered via the Armenian government.

Doukhobor and Molokan Street Names in America Added Aug 20
2001 Aug 20 — Jon Kalmakoff the Doukhobor name/geneology webmaster (See Doukhobor Genealogy) is collecting Doukhobor place names. Jon reports to have "over 92 in Canada/US already" I added the 4 Molokan streets I know about: Rudometkin Lane near Woodburn OR, Kanigan Street in Sacramento, and Shubin Lane and Bolotin Lane in San Marcos CA, then I told him about a Dukhobor Street I found only once near Portland OR. Jon responded: "Dukhobor Road in Eugene Oregon! Turns out there was a Doukhobor colony — the Freedom Colony — just north of Eugene in the 1920's. I've got the City of Eugene officials looking for more details." Also: "Veregin Way in Manteca, where the old Russian Colony (Doukhobors and Molokans) was. If any Molokan NEWS readers can help locate more Molokan or Doukhobor place names, and/or add more details, like how the names got placed, please send them in.

Molokans Help Doukhobors in Caucasus Added Aug 17
1985 — Roman Ivanovich Kanigan: The Shackled One — By Marion Demosky — This is one of many Stories & Articles at Doukhobor Genealogy — "when going through the Caucasus area, they came upon some .... Molokans ..[who] begged the captain of the guards to stop at their place for a rest. They heated up their steam baths, washed the clothes worn by the Doukhobors, and steamed out the lice — thus alleviating their sufferings. ...The chains were so deeply imbedded in the flesh, to the very bone. ... the Chevildeevs, were of the DonCossacks, converted into the Molokan faith". Marion often told me she was related to the Molokans, and at the end of her story she gives her Kanigan family tree. Good drawings, too. (Did you know of the Kanigan Street in Sacramento, California, named by a local Molokan contractor? I'm related to him — Selimskii.)

Molokans Affect Baptist History in Russia Updated Jun 7, 2008
1999 December 8 — Molokans, Stundists, and Pashkovites: A Historical and Sociological Examination of the Baptist Schism in the Soviet Union — Britt McClung, graduate student, Baylor University — "This paper will first briefly examine the historical development of the Baptists as a sect in Russia, focusing on the contribution of several Western-oriented sects and the Russian Molokans to that development. ...In addition, the paper will explore the hypothesis that the church-state beliefs of the Molokan sect—particularly the desire to achieve and maintain a position of influence via numerical strength—played an overlooked role in the schism." This paper enhances and updates Russias' Secret, for example by providing the date (1867) that Nikita Voronin, was adult baptized in the Caucasus. McClung reports this was the first Baptist conversion in Russia, but Chapter 13 of Russias' Secret reports baptizms as early as 1862 in Ukraine. Also we learn about Ivan Zhidkov in Russias' Secret, then about his son Yakov who becomes the AUC chairman. More analysis later in updates.....and send in your insights and research.

Los Angeles — UMCA Picnic Added Aug 11
2001 Aug 11 — Today is the big LA Molokan picnic at sunburn park. Make sure you brought hats, umbrella, and sun screen.

Russia Religions Unite Added Aug 9
1999 January 8 — Jewish News — Russia's major faiths link in move to strengthen ties — by Lev Krichevsky — MOSCOW — Representatives of Russia's major faiths have created an interfaith body aimed at bringing the country's religious groups closer together....the council's work will be based on the "principle of equality" of all faiths. [This is an indication that the politics of religion in Russia is good for Molokans there.]

New Book About Doukhobor History Added Aug 3
2001 Aug 3 — Doukhobor Ship Passenger Lists, 1898-1928, 154 pages, by Steve Lapshinoff and Jonathan Kalmakoff. "5,200 passenger names taken from over 30 lists ... name, family group, age, sex, occupation, ship, dates of departure and arrival, and ports of departure and arrival and intended destination of each Doukhobor passenger. ... full bibliographic references and a comprehensive index...." Cost: AMERICAN: $16 ($12 + $4 shipping). Send cheque or International Money Orders. CANADIAN: $18 + postage."

New Book About Molokans & Doukhobors in the Caucasus Added Aug 3
2001 Aug 3 — History of Caucasian Molokans and Dukhobors by Ivan Semenov, Director of Russian Immigration in Erevan, was just published in either Russia or Armenia. Armenian journalist and media analyst mark Grigorian will be delivering sample copies to an LA presbyter August 10-12. More info later.....

Visit Baja California's Russian Community Added Aug 3
2001 Oct 13 — San Diego Natural History Museum, Adult Educational Programs, offers round-trip bus tours from San Diego to the Molokan colony and museum in Mexico. "visit two local museums ...(one)... in Guadalupe Valley to learn about the Russians' flight from religious persecution and the early days of their settlement. ... enjoy a traditional Russian meal in the home of one of the founding families. .... Price includes transportation, museum admission fees, and lunch. .. $69- $79. ...Sorry, this trip is filled!" Instructor: Therese Muranaka, Ph.D., an archaeologist, has researched the history and settlement patterns of the Spirit Jumper Russian sect of Baja California's Guadalupe. Hey, someone should arrange a tour for us Molokans. Who's going to volunteer?

In 1971 Subbotniki Dissolve, Gift $800 to UMCA Added Aug 2
1971 Summer — The Molokan — by Alex Tolmas — 12 Subboniki members regrettably dissolved their church in LA in 1971. Here's a historical photo of that event as they gift the remainder of their treasury to the UMCA with appreciation to the entire Molokan community.

Chechen Bomb Near Russian Molokans Again Added Aug 1
2001 August 1 — Los Angeles Times — Russian Commandos End Bus Hijacking — by Maura Reynolds — A bus with upto 40 passengers was hijacked in the morning in Nevinnomyssk by a Chechen rebel carrying bombs. The bus passed through Stavropol' and the rebel with a grenade and gun was captured hours later in Mineralniye Vody. Dozens of Molokan communities were along the path.

GPR Doesn't Work for Arizona Cemetery Added Aug 1
2001 July 25 — Arizona Republic — Glendale/Peoria Community Edition — page 1 — High-tech search fails to uncover cemetery's secrets — by Connie Cone Sexton — Ground penetrating radar failed to penetrate the high clay soil in the Arizona Cemetery. Locating graves without markers will required digging.

Allan Zolnekoff in LA Times Added July 31
2001 July 25 — Los Angeles Times — In Finding Father, He Solved a Musical Mystery — by John L. Mitchell — Allan Zolnekoff, Mayor of Whittier, California, is getting some press regarding the interesting story about his Russian and musical roots and how he got adopted by a Molokan family. Also see Allan's website: www.AllanZ.com

John Matchniff Helped 3 Famous Soviet Flyers Added July 31
2001 July 22 — Los Angeles Times — page B4— Three Soviet Fliers' 1937 Happy Landing in a Southland Pasture — On July 14, 1937, a single-engine Soviet plane pioneering a polar route around the world was heading for San Diego when fog forced it to land in Riverside County. It flew 6300+ miles from Moscow in 62+ hours. San Jacinto farmer John Matchniff helped dismantle the plane. For his help he was given 70 gallons of gasoline from the plane. He filled 100s of small bottles with the gas and sold them for 50 cents each. A big profit for that time.

2 Molokan Churchs listed on Internet Added July 22
So far I've only found 2 registered Molokan church addresses on the web: in Omsk, Russia, and in South Australia:

GPR to be used at Molokan Cemetery Added July 12
2001 July 12 — Glendale Star — by Glenn Swain — "The Arizona Molokan Cemetery ... Ground penetrating radar, or GPR, will be used later this month to locate unmarked graves. The University of Arizona has the only GPR service in Arizona, and can do the work for less than $1,000. ... It is estimated the process will take a day to complete. The cemetery will be marked in a grid, with scan lines marked on the surface every two and one-half to five feet."

Biography of Elsie Shubin Added July 12
Born in 1903 in Selim, Kars, in the Caucasus ... to America at 9 ... Los Angeles at 15 ... married at 18 ... raised 4 children, 14 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. "I didn't think to take up creative writing ' till I was eighty years old."

A Molokan's Search for Truth — Tolstoy/Zheltov Added July 5

2001 June 1 — A Molokan's Search for Truth : The Correspondence of Leo Tolstoy and Fedor Zheltov, 155 pages, paperback. The 51 letters between The Count and Molokan martyr Zheltov are finally available in English! F.A. Zheltov and his son were shot to death for being outspoken Molokans. The letters dating from 1887 to 1909 discuss educational issues (especially relating to child-raising), the true meaning of literature, marriage, prayer (should it be in a group of in solitude?—"only in solitude," replies Tolstoy), the person of Jesus Christ, famine, drunkenness, and useful books for the people to read. In 1887, Zheltov tells Tolstoy: "We are simple people, ... peasants — literate, but not well-educated; ... we realize that these great truths ... love for one's neighbor, love for one's enemy, love for God, hence in knowledge of God, in an understanding of good and truth...The people of whom I am speaking are the sectarians — the "Spiritual Christians," or simply, Molokans." $20 from The Station (no charge for shipping), or from Amazon.com. This is a page-for-page translation of the Russian version, available for $15. Also see the University of Ottawa website.

Russians and East Europeans in America    Added July 10
"Waves of Immigration The First Wave: Freedom from religious persecution. The first wave of mass immigration from Russia and Eastern Europe took place in the second half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century before World War I. The majority of those arriving were Jews ... Other immigrants included Russian religious pacifist groups that were in conflict with the Russian Orthodox church. Among them were Russian Molokans and the Russian Old Believers (Starovery).
      Russian Molokans. The name "Molokan" originates from the Russian word for milk (moloko) since the members of this group do not refrain from milk and other products during Orthodox fasts. It refers to those who suffered persecution from both the Russian Orthodox Church and the government for their non-traditional beliefs and practices.
     Russian Molokans settled primarily in Los Angeles area and later in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Good labor skills were valued more than formal education. The Molokan community is characterized by isolation from the outside world, strong emphasis on agricultural work, and attendance of frequent religious services called sobraniye.

Ethiopian Jewish Family Name "Molokan" Added July 10
2001 February 1 — Global Jewish Agenda — "39-year old Gabyenesh Molokan, a blind olah from Ethiopia, whose sight was restored following surgery in Israel, will volunteer for the Civil Guard. Gabyenesh is one of 25 Ethiopian olim living at the Jewish Agency’s Sapir absorption center in Kiryat Yam, who yesterday completed a special training course in preparation for serving in the Civil Guard."

Hiro Protagonist    Added July 10
2001 May 08 — In Russian, Molokan means "milk drinker." It also the name of Christian dissidents who broke away from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century. The moniker began after Molokans defied the prescribed Orthodox fast days by drinking milk.
      They refused to recognize the religious supremacy of the czar and they follow the Bible literally – including its dietary laws, although most do not have their meat ritually slaughtered.
      Because of their beliefs, they were persecuted and forced to resettle in other parts of the Russian Empire – in southern Ukraine, the Caucasus, Central Asia and eastern Russia, where many still reside.

A Journey to the Caucasus Added July 5
2000 Oct — Highlanders : A Journey to the Caucasus in Quest of Memory, 464 pages, by Yo'av Karny, an Israeli journalist. This new book explains the turmoil facing Jews and Molokans in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaidjan — "a village's worth of inhabitants, are disappearing, swallowed up by time and the advance of more powerful ethnic and linguistic groups .... the long war in Chechnya ... raging for hundreds of years. Read more at: Amazon.com, $12.00 — "insurrection, civil wars, ethnic conflicts, economic disintegration, and up to two million refugees."

Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia Added July 5
2000 Sept — Book review by Dr. Paert of The Bathhouse at Midnight: An Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia, 1999, 512 pages in paperback, by W. F. Ryan. A new encyclopedic survey of popular beliefs and practices in old Russia. Learn about the precursors to our Molokan rituals, like otkrovnie, disclosure — "bibliomancy (the practice of using randomly selected passages in books to predict the future)". "The line between magical and ... Christian practices was not a clear one...'dual faith' (dvoeverie) ... semi-pagan and semi-Christian." Did Molokans have the "enlightenment's distaste for superstition" against "the 'magical' usage of icons". Read more at: Amazon.com, $18.00 — "the Number of the Beast, omens, dreams, ..."

Russian Skoptsy (the self-castrated) Added July 5 Updated: Jan 4, 2006
2000 June — Book review by Dr. Paert of Castration and the Heavenly Kingdom: A Russian Folktale, 296 pages, by Laura Engelstein. A new book about the Russian sect Skoptsy — men and women who willingly embraced self-castration believing that it provided the ultimate form of salvation for a Christian. The history of the Skoptsy's sect from its origins in the 1770s to the 1930s is reviewed by chapter with references other sectarian scholars. We can debate what effect, if any, the Skoptsy had on the Jumpers and Maksimisti. Read more at: Amazon.com, $32.50. — "the larger peasant society where marriage was expected and adulthood began with the wedding night"

Molokan Garden/Square in Baku, Azerbaidjan UPDATED: Mar 23, 2005
The "Malakan Garden" or "Malakan Square" is a park in old downtown Baku where Molokans used to have a shanty-town and farmers market. When the Molokans were chased out in the 1940s, they were given a store one block north, which still operates, and the park was dedicated "Mariinsky Garden", then renamed to "Khagani Garden". A song refers to this park by the slang name most Azeris use. Also see post about The Center of the World.

Connections between Molokans, Jews, and Sabbatarians Added July 3 Updated: Jan 4, 2006
1997 June — Expedition to Azerbaidhan in June 1997 by V.A.Dymshits, Research center Petersburg Judaica. A field study of Azerbaidjan Subbotniki and Tats concludes: "It is obvious that some of the Judaic segregated from the Molokan sect, one of the Russian Protestant sects." He also confirms that many Molokans still populate south Azerbaidjan villages. Also read about the "Mountain Jews"..

More of Dr. Breyfogle's Analysis of Molokan History Added July 3
2001 April 6-9 —Work-in-Progress. "Switching Denominations in a Multi-Confessional Context: The Politics of Religious Affiliation in Nineteenth-Century Russia" by Nicholas B. Breyfogle, Department of History, The Ohio State University. Presented at the Annual BASEES Meeting, Cambridge, April 6-9, 2001, on the panel "Mapping Religious Diversity in Imperial Russia" Breyfogle expands the part of his PhD thesis which examines how Molokans would join the Subbotniki or Orthodox to get divorced; and confess to Orthodox to get travel papers.

Do As The Doukhobors Do Added July 3
The famous American folk singer, Pete Seeger, wrote and recorded a song about the Doukobors. You can't get much better honor than that.

Help Needed for Molokan Refugees in Georgia/Russia Added July 3
2001 July 3 — A researcher for the Australian Refugee Review Tribunal in Sydney, Australia, asks us if we have any information about Molokans have experienced adverse treatment in Georgia, or Russia. The Refugee Review Tribunal is an independent group set up by legislation to review the merit of applications for refugee status of persons in Australia.

Biography of Marie N. Shubin-Bestwick Added July 3
In 1980 Gwyn Jolly wrote as part of a college assignment a biography of her grandmother Marie Bestwick (born Akulyna Nikitovna Shubin). These first two chapters of that biography may be of interest to those who would like to know something of the life of the Molokan people in Russia, especially those from Selim, Kars, and also what is was like to enter America through Ellis Island.

Molokans accused of worshiping pagan god: Moloch
1985 — May, June — In the 1980s, the last Molokan church in the Flats burned down. Podval Church (from the Russian podval, basement; also called Shubin's Church) moved to a temporary location in Norwalk, California, near the 605 freeway, south of the Santa Ana Freeway, and was nicknamed 605 Church. In 1985, they moved to Clark Ave in La Puente, and got into an unexpected media blitz — accused of being Satanic child molesters and killers. Police detectives, TV and news reporters were jumping all over the Jumpers. Read about the "Molestation Case" in the LA Times.

Milikoi Church Moving to Whittier
2000 June 10 — Milikoi Church, now at S. Eastman & Dennison St in Los Angeles, announced that they will be moving to the city of Whittier, where they bought an existing church on the corner of Whittier Blvd. & Costa Glen Drive (near First Ave). The move may take place at the end of this year. See a 1987 picture of their original church building in the village of Milikoi, near Kars, now in Turkey. This building was used up to 1962 when most of the remaining Molokans in Turkey were moved to Stavropol'ksii krai, Russia. Also, Whittier Mayor, Allan Zolnekoff reports: "In front of the "New" Milikoi church is a fine Kosher Deli run by Yousef (who was born in Israel) but who goes by the name of Tony, (owner of Tony's New York Deli). Tell him Allan sent you and try the pastrami. The Russians will end up being his landlord. Such a Kosher deal!"

2 New Doukhobor websites Updated July 1, 2006
2001 May 30 — ISKRA is now online in a limited format ISKRAmag.org. [Now at: ISKRA.ca] This is a big move for the Doukhobors, with some articles and lots of pictures, though only in B&W. Now the UMCA's The Molokan should use the URL that the editor uses to bring traffic to his radio business www.TheMolokan.com, and now is "under construction".
2000 November — Kootenay.org, sponsored by the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce, has donated space for a locally maintained general Doukhobor website. It has links to the Canadian Doukhobor Society, Canadian Museum Of Civilization, Doukhobor Home Page, Doukhobor Village, and much more summary information about Canadian Doukhobors with lots of pictures.

50th Anniversary of Molokan Immigration from Iran
2001 May/June — 50 years ago the first "Persian" Molokans began to arrive in America. Of the 600 who immigrated, most were Molokans (Jumpers, Spiritual, Constants); the others were Baptist, Orthodox, and Subbotniki/Adventists. To celebrate the event, Bill and Martha Shubin of Fresno held a reunion dinner at their house Saturday, June 1. We hope many of these families will document their history.

Peter Gritchen Funeral v Grand Forksi
2001 May 29 — by Koozma J. Tarasoff — In commemoration of Peter M. Gritchen (Aug. 6, 1922-May 27, 2001). — Here is a short tribute that I sent to Peter's sister Lucy Demosky to be read at the Memorial at the USCC Centre in Grand Forks, B.C. on Wednesday May 30th. Burial will be on Thursday May 31.

Order Zheltov/Tolstoy Book for $20
Highgate Road Social Science Research Station is pleased to announce the publication in English of A Molokan's Search for Truth: The Correspondence of Leo Tolstoy and Fedor Zheltov. The book contains, in addition, introductions by Andrew Donskov and Ethel Dunn, placing the Molokans in the social history of the time. The price is $20, North American postage included. Mail checks to: The Station, 2601 Hilltop Drive, Apt. 217, Richmond, CA. 94806. For further information please enquire by telephone at: 510-262-9189, or e-mail: etheldunn@sbcglobal.net

Oregon Church Well Data
How deep is the Gervais church well? 121 feet. When was it drilled? February 6, 1957. What is its altitude? 181 feet above sea level. What does it yield? 20 gallons per minute. Look up wells for other Molokan farms—like the Konovalovs

Molokan Elementary School at Risk
1995—School Haze: Air Pollution Near California Schools—The Environmental Working Group reports EPA toxic discharge data for the MES in Hacienda Heights: 268,400 lbs.of nitrogen/sulfur oxides and particulate matter; and 3,386 lbs of metal carcinogens and reproductive toxins. "... half of the state's schoolchildren ... attended class within a mile of reported air emissions of chemicals known to cause cancer, reproductive damage, developmental disabilities or respiratory illness..." [The Promised Land is smoggy!]

Molokan Genealogy at the Polish Project
If you want to click through a labyrinth of Molokan genealogy links on the WWW, try this site with 6 Molokan links to start.

Little by Little by Samuel J. Tolmasoff
Cpoyright 1982 — Excerpts from "Little by Little" by Samuel J. Tolmasoff. — "The religion that I came from, the Molokan, began with a semi-literate prophet ... able to sway hundreds of thousands of people to his beliefs. .. based on conservative Christianity, more puritanical than the American Puritans had dreamed of. ... no icons, no idols or images; not even the Cross was allowed to be displayed. ... no ornamentation of any kind, no pictures, nothing decorative, no music of any type except acapella singing — and this was restricted to hymnal and religious songs. The Sabbath was strictly observed... I... was born in Mexico, in the Molokan colony near Ensenada...moved to ...Glendale, Arizona ... " Also read about his sister in "Religion and Rebellion"

Molokans in Mexico (Spanish)

1905. — A Brief historical Review of Ensenada — [Translated from Spanish] The first Russian colony of the Malakhanys sect were received by Don Heraclio Ochoa. (Molokan) ' molokanes' (milk drinkers) had fled czarist Russia from religious persecution are lead by Basilio Pivovaroff, Basilio Tolmasoff and Simeon Babichoff, who arranged the colonization of the Valley of Guadalupe with the government of Porfirio Diaz through a contract (Daily Official no. 17 of the 20 of March of 1906). 60 families settled down who were mainly dedicated to agriculture and raising of the geese and ducks. This group of audacious young people left their mother country looking for, in foreign earth, familiar well-being and spiritual peace, that after a great passage finally found it in Cove [Ensenada]. Photo caption: Russian family of Molokans established in the Valley of Guadalupe taking special care of a flock of geese from which they obtained meat and feathers that are used in blankets, pillows, mattresses and personal clothes. [This is a very large site and may be slow to load.]

Molokans in Gorky's Stories
2001 May — Through Russia — by Maxim Gorky — translated by C.J. Hogarth in 1921 — Gorky, "the father of Soviet literature", included Molokans in several of his short stories. Thanks to this translation posted on JollyRoger.com, we find Molokans mentioned in In a Mountain Defile, and The Dead Man. More later.

Old Believer, Molokan, Jumpers & Doukhobors
2001 — Religious Costume & Clothing Links at The Costumer's Manifesto — "...religion is a powerful influence on the history of dress, so these links are provided for your information. In this list many religions are grouped together by clothing style, .. " Be patient, this site takes a minute to load.

Another Molokan Website from Russia
2001 May — An annonymous Russian Molokan has created a list of links to Molokan material on the web in Russian and English, with a guest book form. Check it out.

Lost Soldiers of Darkness
2001 — May — Molokan is now a character in a computer game. See Character Profile for Molokan, a Druid. Interesting trivia. I asked the player who he was and Kirk Covert replied: "...it was not inspired by anything, just came up with it. I heard there is some play or movie with such a Molokan in it." Now you have the rest of the story.

By 2006, the only online calendar of Doukhobor events is at Spirit-Wrestlers.com, click on "News"

Doukhobors Topic of TV Documentary
2001 May 10 — 9 p.m. EST — Womens' Television Network (WTN) — If you have cable, be sure to see upcoming episode of the WTN television documentary series "Through Her Eyes" entitled "Daughters of Freedom" premiering on Thursday, May 10 at 9 p.m. EST . "In 1956, Helen Chernoff and Kathleen Shlakoff (both 8 years of age) were incarcerated in the foreboding New Denver Dormitory School after their parents refused to send them to regular school. As children of the Doukhobor's radical Sons of Freedom sect, they were allowed very little contact with their parents during the 3 years they were forcibly confined. Daughters of Freedom documents the unique friendship that developed between the two girls and their struggle not only to recover what they lost in New Denver, but to find true freedom as adults."

Let's Repeal an Old Anti-Doukhobor Law
2001 May 1 — Koozma J. Tarasoff urges Doukhobors, and Molokans, to lobby the British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General to repeal the Community Regulation Act of March 1914. It's a notorious anti-Doukhobor Act in breach of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Another Bomb Scares Molokans in Stavropol'

2001 March 23 — Essentuki (between Piatigorsk and Kislevodsk), Mineral Waters Region, Stavropol', Russian Federation — Two people were killed and 4 were seriously injured as a bomb exploded in the Essentuki city cemetery. It was the 4th bombing this year in the Northern Caucasus. The recent public bombs have scared away most of the clients who seek medical treatment and tourists who vacation in the Mineral Waters Region of Stavropol'skii krai. Several thousand-bed medical clinics report no patients. These clinics (santori) had waiting lists before perestroika, and were 40% full last May due to privatization and the Russian economy. Many professionals report that wages are being paid months late.

22 million Ellis Island immigrants online

2001 March — American Family Immigration History Center is a database of the 22 million ship passengers who immigrated to America between 1892 and 1924 through New York. 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island, New York, between 1892 and 1954. Others passed through the Port of New York. It's the most recent large database to be placed on the Internet. Hundreds of volunteers typed the ship lists so you don't have to search tons of micro film looking for your relatives. The site has gotten so much publicity that it has been too busy to search for Molokan surnames. Please send in what you find and I'll post it.

Northern Caucasus Molokans NOT to be Liquidated
2001 January 24 — Keston News Service — Russia: Muslims First up for mandantory liquidation — by Tatyana Titova — Molokans in Kabardino-Balkar, near Krasnodar, in the Northern Caucasus are spared prosecution from registration. The first religions to get axed are 37 Muslim and one Jehovah's Witness. The one Molokan church in Kabardino-Balkar is spared. But, this translated news article reports that the Jehovah's Witness community in the town of Prokhladny faces court-ordered liquidation. In 1993, I met Russian students in Stavropol' who told that most of the Molokans in Prokhladny joined the JWs. So these converted Molokans may be losing their church property only because they are affiliated with the international JW church.

19 Registered Molokan Churches in Russian Federation
2001 January 1 — As of the first of this year, 19 Russian-Molokan churches have officially registered. Two are listed as Central churches, but no Molokan schools.. Molokans are #35 on the list. So who's really the "Center" and in charge over there? [Use Russian Cyrillic font for Windows to view this site.]

New Molokan website from Russia
2001 April 17 — Slavik Ivanov from Valdikavkaz (formerly Oridzhokitsina, next to Chechnia) assembled an informative website about Kars Molokans—Moi irosticheskii rodina (My historical ancestors). He's now studying in St. Petersburg. He wants to learn more about his family. His grandfather Ivan Petrovich Ivanov had a brother who was a master wheel-maker. He reports that in Valdikavkaz there is a section of town called "Molokanka" (Molokanskaja sloboda). Slavik wrote the web site in Esperanto (international English) and Russian, so that more people will learn about Molokans. The main page includes 2 maps showing Kars and 6 pictures. The Russian version includes links to 2 excellent articles on the web about Molokans, one by Svetlana Inikova, of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Historical News 1999, and the other just published in Itogi 24 April 2001 about Molokans in Armenia with 16 pictures. Thank you Slavik!

Uklein/Dolmatov Compromise Still Incomplete
Miliukov reports that the sect of Uklein received the name Molokans from the Orthodox: "those who drink milk during fasts". But when the evangelic Molokans led by Uklein traveled down the Volga 200+ years ago, he met ritualistic judiazers led by Dalmatov. To convert Dalmatov's followers, Uklein compromised—no pork or scale-less fish, circumcision optional. To this day, the Uklein/Dalmatov compromise is incomplete and causes friction among the various factions of Molokans.

Russian JWs Win in Court but Lose in Public
2001 February/April — The Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia won a difficult court case in Moscow after years of legal persecution, but lose to local control this month in Georgia as the Christian Society, an Orthodox group, burns JW and Baptist books. The Molokans and Doukhobors are spared assaults, because they are a historic Russian religion. Also see 2001 March 28 Tbillisi, Georgia: Jehovah's Witnesses Books Burned.

Heritage Village Acquires Doukhobor Elevator
2001 March 29 — Kamsack Times — page 1 —After years of patience and quiet negotiation it seems certain that a major Doukhobor agricultural relic at Veregin will be preserved. ...Veregin's last remaining elevator, .. built by Doukhobor pioneers using their own design and methods in 1908...the National Doukhobor Heritage Village at Veregin will assume ownership of the elevator, and restore it.

Russian Molokan-Mormons
2001 March 30 — In 1998, an American LDS (Mormon) and BYU student, James Scott was living in the city of Samara, Russia. He discovered a group of religionists calling themselves Molokan-Mormony, but not belonging to the Mormon (LDS) Church based in Utah. He has conducted both field and academic research on this obscure group, and is returning to Samara in May on a research grant from BYU this time as an ethnographer to conduct field studies in local villages to uncover, if possible, any connection between the Samara Molokan- Mormons and the history of the American Mormon movement.

Nail in the Fence
2000 April — This was forwarded to us all by the longest serving Molokan Sunday School teacher in San Francisco. Today's lesson from Tiotia Antonina is that Molokans (and everyone) must try to make peace before holidays (and everyday). This story is a way to explain that lesson that touched Tonia enough to pass it along.

Research About Molokans in Park Valley, Utah
2001 March 28 — Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, Virginia — Dr. Marshal Bowen is in the early stages of researching the Utah Molokan colony. His primary goal is "...to understand the Molokans' move to Park Valley in the context of city people moving to desert aned semi-desert localities in the Great Basin..." He is looking for any descendants of the Utah colony—Chernabaeffs, Kalpakoffs, Kunakoffs, Rudometkins, and Volkoffs.

3 Terrorist Bombs Explode Near Russian Molokans

2001 March 24 — Stavropol'skii krai, Russia — Three bomb-stuffed cars exploded almost simultaneously Saturday, killing at least 21 people and injuring more than 150 in the worst act of terror to hit Russia outside warring Chechnya in months. The affected towns of Mineral Waters and Essentuki have no Molokan churches, but many Molokans live and work there, and 1000s live in adjacent towns with Molokan churches. A Molokan in Yessentuki who lives 3 blocks from that blast reports by phone that her house shook so hard that their pots and pans fell off the wall hooks. Previous bombings were in nearby Piatigorsk last December.

Special Discount for Spirit Wrestlers book and CD-ROM
2001 March 15 — Spirit Wrestlers: Doukhobor Pioneers of the Century by Koozma Tarasoff. Doukhobor historian and author Tarasoff needs help financing his most extensive documentation of Doukhobors ever, soon to be published in the most advanced print and digital forms—700 graphics, video, and audio. He needs $100,000. Help support this project.

Tolstoy Series: Letters with Molokan Martyr F.A. Zheltov
Canada, University of Ottawa, Slavic Research Group — Volume 2 in this series is Tolstoy's correspondence with a Molokan peasant writer and philosopher, Fedor Alekseevich Zheltov — L.N. Tolstoy i F.A. Zheltov: Perepiska, compiled by Ljudmila Gladkova of the Moscow L.N. Tolstoy Museum. Price: C$20.- (outside Canada: US$16, C$24). Edited and with an introduction by Andrew Donskov, the correspondence comprises fifty-one letters — 37 from Zheltov to Tolstoy (in print here fo the first time) and 14 from Tolstoy to Zheltov (corrected according to original manuscripts). While this publication is in Russian only, an English translation, by John Woodsworth of the SRG, is soon to be published under the editorship of Ethel Dunn of the Highgate Road Social Science Research Station in Berkeley (California), USA. Order for $20 from The Station.

Searching 4 Ancestors!
by Manya Kobzoff-Woods — Looking for Ancestors from Russia/Mexico with Molokan background. Father born in Ensenada, Mexico: Kobzeff. His mother's maiden name: Samarin, Pearl; My mothers maiden name: Belousov. Added to Molokan Genealogy.

Big Panda Comics with Dark Lord Molokan

2001 January 23 — Man and Balloon by Glen Dudley — "Once upon a time, in the far off land of Faerie, two children were born. Through some random chance of fate, they were both transported to Earth, though neither was aware of their off-planet ancestry. After having a few zany escapades on their new homeworld, they were brought to Faerie in order to save the land from the evil Dark Lord Molokan. It's hard work, but they seem to be getting the job done." Author Glen Dudley e-mails that he didn't know there were real Molokans, and that he can't remember how he came up with the word. Read his e-mail. Also see Molokan, a powerful magician.

Little Tokyo's Roots Firm After Trials
2001 January 21 — Los Angeles Times — by Cecilia Rasmussen — "... in the nearby Los Angeles River, while Russian children, the offspring of Molokan Russians, scared off the Japanese kids with slingshots." Will someone scan and send in this 973 word article?

The Maritime Heritage Project — ERRORS!
"The first Russian settlers in America were fur traders who crossed the Bering Strait into Alaska in the mid eighteenth century. ... Also, members of persecuted religions such as the Molokan and Orthodox crossed the strait to escape government oppression in Russia. These people converted many Eskimos to their religions, and started small communities in Alaska. ...." [Molokans did not cross the Bering Strait to come to America! Molokans did not convert Eskimos! Molokans did not start villages in Alaska!]

200th Molokan Anniversary Announced
2001 January 13 — Fast with prayers on 15-16-17 March, year 2001. On 13 July, 2001, the Spiritual Committee of the Center decided to conduct a three-day celebration with a prayer at the Center of SCM of Russia at Kochubeevskoe, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Royal edict of freedom for our ancestors. In 1805, Tsar Aleksandr Pavlovich decreed freedom of religion to all Molokans. [Don't ask why they are doing it 4 years early.]

Photos from Blagoveshchensk
2001 March 20 — Jenny Kondrashov-Clark sends in old family photos from Blagoveshensk (Far East)— her grandfather, grandfather's sister and fiancee in exile in Japan, and two unidentified girls. No dates are given."My family were Molokans from Blagoveshchensk. I am gathering photographs, stories and history from my father and Uncles to write a novel based on their very interesting history. I have photographs of the Molokans in Blagoveshchensk, and the Hotel which they built in 1914. I also have a photo taken in early 1900's of the waterfront of Blagoveshchensk. A town that was mostly built by industrious Molokans. I would love to be able to share and trade information."

America, Russia, and the Meeting of Frontiers
Colonization, Religious Flight and Migration — Here's a Library of Congress site in Russian and English which compares the American treatment of Mormons to the Russian treatment of sectarians. "In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Russian Far East became the locus of sectarian settlement. Old Believers, along with Dukhobors, Molokans, German Mennonites and Baptists streamed to the newly acquired lands. During this period the Amur district had more religious sectarians than any other province in Russia. Sectarians rejected alcohol and emphasized self-reliance and hard work; these traits made them very successful as colonists, helping them to build productive farms and vibrant communities."

24-hour Molokan Funeral Announcements at 323-724-3984
A little known free service to all Molokans is the funeral message service. 15 years ago, long after telephone answering machines were available, the new directors of the Russian Molokan Christian Spiritual Cemetery, near Los Angeles, decided to get one to help us all communicate. For years Klubnikin's Store, on Whittier Blvd., hosted the announcemnt bulletin board. When Klubnikin's closed we had no central communication port. Messages can be left or heard at any time by telephoning 323-724-3984. Perhaps some of you who are less shy of exposing Molokans in cyberspace may start using the Molokan Forum for announcemnts.

"Church Asked to Forgive Tolstoy's Sins"
2001 February 27 — The Moscow Times — By Sarah Karush — "His philosophy contradicted official church doctrine and was deemed heretical." But his great-great-grandson asked the church to forgive him "...horrifying some scholars, who say Tolstoy would never have asked for forgiveness from the church he scorned."

Ohio State University Recognitions
I'm hoping to get copies of these presentations by Dr. Breyfogle to post.

Ukranian Christian Center Sells First Russian Molokan Song Tape

On-Line Magazin [store] lists item #5: "Spiritual Songs of Molokans" (60 min. tape) Translation: "This material doesn't have anything to do with apolegetics, but we decided to be responsible for distribution of this tape due to its uniqueness. It's not a secret that today's popular spiritual music has Greek-Byzantine, German or American sources (it depends on the time of formation of the confessions on the East-Salvic culture plain). For us it was a joy to discover traditional Russian folksongs with evangelic contents. We were able to organize the recording of these songs performed by Elena Ivanovna Zviaginsteva, who remembered them since she was a kid. This tape will get get the attention of lovers and researchers of Eastern Slavic folk creativity." Listen to a sample in MP3. 60 minute cassette, Cost 4 griven — CD cost 10 griven [Griven is Ukranian money. 1 griven = $0.20]. Thanks to the Christian Center for Science and Apologetics for documenting our Molokan culture in the Ukraine, but they goofed by putting crosses on the cover. The singer died last year. She was from Cherkassy (Central Ukraine). Read Cherkassy history. Map showing Cherkassy south-east of Kiev. Thousands of Molokans still live in the Milky Waters region east of Melitopol near the Sea of Azov. I have a master CD and will make copies for sale. 20% will go to the organization that recorded this. Stay tuned/bookmarked for prices and contents. There's a lot of transcribing and translation to do.

Land Purchased for Moscow Molokan Church
2000 — The Molokans in Moscow have been meeting in homes since Alexandrov first organized the Russian Molokans in 1992. The Moscow Molokan church members are primarily from Tambov, Azerbaidjan, and Armenia. With help from a local Doukhobor contractor they almost bought a building few years ago but could not raise the $250,000 needed. Now it seems they secured a piece of bare land. More about this later as news comes in. I'm sure they'll appreciate any donations you can send.

Dr. Waters' Lecture was Banned by UMCA Board
Sorry to report that the UMCA was asked to host this lecture, and the Board of Directors flatly refused because they didn't want "any more dissertations". Some board members attended Dr. Breyfogle's lecture in LA, and apparently didn't like to hear so much information about Molokans. It seems that fear of knowledge is very active politically among many American Molokans. I hope they don't attack those trying to help the Russian archive research project. You may yet get to meet and hear Dr.Waters if he participates in the "Your Boyle Heights" project this year. Stay tuned.

Russian Molokan Website Moved to CyberCities
2000 December 19 — Tambov, Russian Federation — "I had some problems with using Cybercities. After several attempts to fix it, I had to register the home page on another server. Now you may read, download, print and give to your friends the Russian Molokan journals by clicking the following URL: http://www.geocities.com/spchmol/ Most links are reserved for the future. Today links work to journals "Mlechny put" and "Dobry domostroitel". I have a little, very little time to construct this Home Page, but I will try to improve some mistakes. http://www3.cybercities.com/s/spiritual does not work. Best regards, Sergey Petrov < psp@tamben.elektra.ru >. [See story below from September 2000.]