Poluverniki Explained

Poluverniki or poluvertsy (Estonian: pooleusulised) 'half believers' was a term used for a group of Estonian-Votian-Russian Christians in the 17th century, who mixed Orthodox traditions with Lutheranism. The Poluverniki were born as many Orthodox Christians in Eastern Estonia converted to Lutheranism in the East Viru Country as a result of assimilation into Estonian culture. Most Poluverniki were either converts with a Russian or a Votian background. The Poluverniks attended Lutheran congregations, however following many elements of Orthodoxy. The term "Poluvernik" was also used for the Setu people, but they are distinct from the Poluverniks of Northern Estonia.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]} Despite later efforts to Russify the poluverniks, only a small portion of them remained Russian speaking.

Notes and References

1. Book: Berg, Eiki . Common Border, Shared Problems: Research Reports . 1997 . Lake Peipsi project . en.
2. Plaat . J. . 2011 . Orthodoxy and Orthodox Sacral Buildings in Estonia from the 11th to the 19th Centuries . Mäetagused . 47 . 7–38 . 10.7592/MT2011.47.PLAAT . 54083361 . en. free .
3. Web site: IGAUNIJAS voti . 2023-01-14 . Krieviņu novads . lv.
4. Web site: 2019-12-12 . Следы языка полуверников еще сохраняются в окрестностях Ийзаку . 2023-01-14 . Персона/репортаж . ru.
5. Web site: Культурное наследие Kaitsealad . 2023-01-21 . kaitsealad.ee.
6. Book: Kallio . Kati . Inkerikot, setot ja vatjalaiset: Kansankulttuuri, kieli ja uskomusperinteet . Grünthal . Riho . Saressalo . Lassi . 2021-12-21 . Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura . 978-951-858-391-5 . fi.
7. Book: Olson . James Stuart . An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires . Pappas . Lee Brigance . Pappas . Nicholas Charles . Pappas . Nicholas C. J. . 1994 . Greenwood Publishing Group . 978-0-313-27497-8 . en.
8. Book: Excursions Routes . 1991 . Institute of Ecology and Marine Research, Estonian Academy of Sciences . en.