The Old Believers in Kolkja and Varnja Village

 Old Believers in Estonia

Lake Peipsi

The first Old Believers came from Russia o 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 (artu) 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 on it is from 1582. The first written  evidence from Big Kolki (Estonian Suur Kolkja) village is mentioned 1592. Restoration of independence in Estonia in 1991 made possible the renaissance of the Old Belief. The Museums of Old Beliver culture were founded in Kolkja, Varnja and Mustvee. In Prichudye schools, Old Believrs´children studied the Church Slavonic language and Biblic law.

Villages and people have arranged their lifestyle according to the great lake. The customs of the Old Bwelievers, piety and worship of saints and icons are preserved and kept in high value of people around Lake Peipsi. "You don´t need more in the life than what you need to live" says an Old Believer, the village batyushka. Somewhwrw a light shines down, brighter than any eartly light. Living by the runderstanding of this than any other setting.

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