The Old Believers in Kolkja and Varnja Village

 Old Believers in Estonia

Lake Peipsi

The first Old Believers came from Russia to southern Estonia (Livland) in the late 17th century. In the 18th century, building of Old Believer wooden worship houses started.

By the early 19th century, the worship houses emerged in the cities Reval (Tallinn) and Dorpat (Tartu) as well as Kasapel (Kasepää), Krasnye Gory (Kallaste), Chernoye (Mustvee), Voronye (Varnja), Mezhi (Piirissaare) and Kolki (Kolkja).

Varanya (estonian Varnja) is an old Russian fishermen village on the Lake Peipus shore.

The first written evidence of it is from 1582. The village Big Kolki (Estonian Suur Kolkja) was first mentioned in 1592. The restoration of independence in Estonia in 1991 made the renaissance of the Old Belief possible. The Museums of Old Belivers culture were founded in Kolkja, Varnja and Mustvee. In Prichudye schools, Old Believers´children studied the Church Slavonic language and Biblical law.

Villages and people have arranged their lifestyle according to the great lake. The customs of the Old Believers, piety and worship of saints and icons are preserved and kept in high value of people around Lake Peipus. "You don´t need more in the life than what you need to live" says an Old Believer, the village Batyushka.

The edge of the lake lends itself ideal to vegetable growing, especially onions. Onion beds may be a source of income, but they are much more a way of life. Onions of the Lake Peipsi region will ward off every cold, if eaten all winter long.