HONORING STEPHEN OF PERM IN FOLK TRADITION OF THE NIVSHERA’S KOMI

Abstract

The article analyzes the local version of veneration of St. Stephen of Perm among the Nivshera’s Komi. The microlocal folklore tradition of the village Nischera (Komi Republic) is geographically far from the place of residence of the first bishop of Perm and the main area (Lower Vychegda and Vym) of the spread of traditions about a religious saint, who was called the “Zyryansky Apostle”. Meanwhile, the chapel (now lost) in honor of the saint and the saved life icon in the small village Rusanovskaya helped preserve the memory of a religious figure in popular culture. The post-temple life of the icon is amazing: relatives of the shrines who saved from death made a vow to hold home services. According to the established model in the Nivshera tradition off-temple services began to be held also before the reproduction of the icon Stefan Perm. The work attempted to compare scenarios and strategies for conducting home worship in two places. To some extent, the future of such practices will depend not only on the capabilities of the guardians of the icon and the presence of successors of this matter, but also on the socio-cultural situation of the village and interaction with the Orthodox Church. To some extent, the future of such practices will depend not only on the capabilities of the guardians of the icon and the presence of successors of this matter, but also on the socio-cultural situation of the village and interaction with the Orthodox Church. The cult veneration of Stefan Perm in the Nivshera folklore tradition is evidenced by recorded oral stories about a saint who visited the Vishera District, climbing a boat along the river, expelled rats for a long time, saved the village from fire, and provides general patronage to the village Rusanovskaya.