Old Believer 

The Russian Old Believers are very distinctive religious group, emerging as a result of a schism that took place in the mid-1600s, when a group of Russians rejected the ongoing church reforms. The Tsar’s authorities were dissatisfied with these malcontents and persecuted them by exile, heavily taxation and death sentences. Through their emphasis on education and an austere life the Old Believers managed to preserve their culture. By 1890 the Old-Believer merchants owned a considerable share of national capital and were remarkable philanthropists. My continuing project on the Old Believers consists of their individual stories, showing both specific and common traits of this people.

Many Old Believers settled in the remote areas to avoid repressions, so the hero of my story lives in the Multa village in the Altai Mountains, 500 kilometers from the nearby cities. Valery Petrushenko AKA Valera Hip was born in Irkutsk, first visited Altai 20 years ago touring with his jazz band and decided to settle down in Multa, where he was baptized and became an Old Believer. His bees together with production of musical instruments are now essence of his life. Valera’s honey is considered one of the best in the whole country; the gusli and other instruments he makes are bought by both local and visiting musicians. Valera also writes music on his own: his album was released in Moscow two years ago. All tracks were recorded at home, using a gusli he made himself, and pipes, sitar and simple recording equipment. He advocates ecologically friendly sources of energy and generally treats nature with trepidation. On the other hand, Valera makes use of very advanced modern appliances. Religion occupies important place in Valera’s life: he reads a lot and likes to canvass spiritual matters, but interprets them in different ways and authentically.

This, however, is a commonplace in Multa. A village today summoning artists and poets for long was a habitation of the Old Believers with their own original way of thinking. 

Anton Karliner. Born in 1992 in Novosibirsk, Russia. Attended the Sociology Department of Novosibirsk State University. In 2010 finished a Photography Course with photographer Valery Titievsky. Participated in Russian Reporter magazine Summer School photography workshops several times. Graduated from Fotodepartment.Institute in Saint-Petersburg in 2014 (Misha Domozhilov course).

Since 2011 has worked as a photojournalist. Published in Russian Reporter magazine, Afisha magazine, Geo Magazine Russia, Sib.fm (internet magazine), Echo of Moscow web-site, Deutsche Welle web-site and many other newspapers and web-sites.

Anton is currently based in Novosibirsk.