SOME EVIDENCE OF THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF THE SKOPTSY IN THE IRKUTSK PROVINCE (SECOND THIRD OF THE 19TH CENTURY)

Abstract

The article examines the everyday details of the life of the Skoptsy of the Irkutsk province in the 30s-40s of the 19th century. The study is based on information from two cases of 1832 and 1848 on the disclosure by the priests of the local parish of a secret community of the Skoptsy in the village of Golumet’. Despite the rather close attention to the topic of non-traditional religious movements, many archival materials on this topic are still not in demand. The article presents the ritual and medical aspects of the life of Skoptsy: descriptions of methods of emasculation, characteristic self-restraints in everyday life, and even individual ideological views of eunuchs. Thanks to archival materials, it was possible to determine common, characteristic features of behavior for all members of the sect, their social portrait. According to the author, their survival was of particular importance for the sect, therefore, the issue of secrecy during meetings, conversations, ritual actions was given the greatest importance...