Popular worship of St. George and traditions of double belief in Russia of 19th century

Abstract

Аim. To investigate the tradition of folk (peasant) worship of St. George in Russia in the 19th century and the manifestation of the specific feature of folk life and mindset known as “double belief” (“dvoeverie”) – the presence of elements of another belief in religion.
Methodology. This paper analyzes the materials of ethnographic magazines of the 19th century, works of ethnographers and other academic works on the worship of the St. George and “double belief” traditions in Russia. The critical analysis of sources and comparative analysis of research literature have been used.
Results. The analysis and systematization of sources and scientific literature on the traditions of the worship of St. George in Russia in the 19th century have been carried out. Based on a large amount of actual materials, including little-studied ethnographic materials of the 19th century and also comparative analysis of researches on the Saint George’s worship, the traditions of his worship in the mentioned period and existence of the “double belief” traditions have been shown. The article also touches upon the topic of unjustified criticism оf the term “double belief” in some academic works, reveals correspondence of use of this term to the phenomenon under consideration and facts of religious life.
Research implications. The research allows to systematize extensive factual material containing information about specific features of the worship of St. George in Russia in the 19th century. Besides this the research confirms the applicability of the term “double belief” for the description of specific features of common folk religious mindset.