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Zoroastrianism in Russia; from Romanticism to Cultism to an established Faith proper I would like to preface this paper by saying that unfortunately I do not speak Russian, and thus had to rely massively on the rabbithole of google searches (and Russian popular sites) as well as the paper “On Good Faith” by Anna Tessman. I encourage this paper to be read by those who may be interested. Russia has long been an antipode to the west, a land remote that is easy to demonize and use as a bogeyman. Russia still carries the “stigma” of the USSR; a state that seemed to exude rigid order and monotony, a global menace and, it was presumed, a state with no “soul” due to state enforced atheism. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, the implementation of the USSR went on to break the stronghold of the Orthodox church, while throwing a lifeline to the folk beliefs of Russians, and other ethnicities, that were near extinction. Early awareness of Zoroastrianism This paper will explore the birth of Russian Zoroastrianism; from the romanticising of Zoroaster in the west in the early 20th century, to the mass interest in Zoroastrian astrology and finally to the birth of true Russian Zoroastrians. The Russian fascination with Zoroastrianism harks to latter half of the 19th century, namely to a certain academic named Konstantin Inostrantsev (1876-1941) who became famous through his doctoral thesis The Sasanian Sketches (Сасанидские этюды, 1909), presented at St. Petersburg University one year later and translated into French afterward. There would be many studies and publications on Zoroastrianism thereafter. In the USSR era, the ‘first’ encounter Russians had with Zoroaster was with the imbibement of Nietzsche’s works in the circles of Soviet intellectuals that put the name and image of Zarathustra into wider circulation. These intellectuals that were so influenced by Nietzsche and Zoroaster went on to enflame the nationalistic fervor of Russians post USSR, and, within the nationalistic circles, the echo of Zoroastrianism is still traceable. Indeed, with the acquisition of formerly Iranian territories, as well as the Persianite central asia both Imperial Russia and the USSR had vested interest in understanding the culture and history of the region. Aside from the marriage of Russian nationalism to Zoroaster as a “Russian Aryan Prophet”, another important factor playing into Russian Zoroastrianism is the religious and esoteric topics, and indeed, cults dominated the last decades of the Soviet Union. Of these new religious movements, Zarathustra became a recurring theme, playing a major role in defining their view of the universe and our role within. Murky beginnings; Pavel Globa Many Russians seeking religious fulfillment, therefore, came into contact with Zoroastrianism first intertwined within this esoteric new religious movements. Thus, when the masses came into contact with Zoroastrianism in the 1990s it was primarily connected with charismatic individual leaders, such as Pavel Globa. As a prominent astrologer of the times, Pavel became popular within the Russian landscape by making political astrological predictions and by lectures and seminars. For Pavel a self-described Zurvanist, Zoroastrianism, and thus Zoroastrian astrology was not only a source of inspiration for new astrological concepts, but also a source of legitimacy; after all Zoroastrianism was a 4000 year old religion of the Aryans revealed by Zoroaster; according to them a Russian Aryan prophet that lived in Siberia, from whom Russian nationalist claimed descent. Pavel went on to name his brand of astrology; Avestan astrology. To summarize, the modern history of Zoroastrianism in Russia, begins with Pavel Globa’s extraordinary position in the post-Soviet mass media and his promotion of his brand of astrology which resulted in the increasing interest in Zoroastrianism as a religion in the post-Soviet area at that time. Globa would quite literally monopolize talking about astrology in the post-USSR era and would go on to become a household name in Russian popular media. Globa’s Zoroastrianism (or the appropriation thereof) Pavel Globa, self-described Zurvanist, would go onto conduct quasi-Zoroastrian “initiations” of believers, both at his public lectures, and in a private atmosphere. These initiations were contrary in nature versus known Parsi and Iranian Zoroastrian navjote/sadrepushi. The initiates would receive only a kusti (a white girdle) without any sudre (a special white shirt) necessary for this Zoroastrian ritual; Globa’s girdles were not white but tricolour; yellow, red, and blue, which, according to Globa symbolize the god Zervan. Globa would chose certain devoted pupils and with special khorbad (herbad Iranian terminology) initiations these select few were made into a quasi-priestly class, free conduct yasna liturgies and to initiate laymen independently. For good, or for bad, these initiates regarded themselves Zoroastrians (зороастрийцы). Reformation within; legitimization With the public interest in Zoroastrianism, in St. Petersburg and Moscow Zoroastrian communities were founded in 1994 and 1995 respectively, and a small community newsletter named Mitra and Tiri was serialized. The Mitra, aside from periodicals also translates and publishes liturgical texts from Avestan to Russian, aside from keeping in touch with news from other Zoroastrian communities. These periodicals can be accessed at; mitra-piter.narod.ru tishtriya.narod.ru From these two communities, up to 50 smaller branches (called Asha) were established, intended to serve those interested though Russia, and former USSR countries. 20 of were still in service as of 2011. It is important to realize, however, that these Asha were, in it’s core, commercial organizations intended, and used for, the promotions of Globa’s astrology. These Ashas gave birth in turn to another community. Those who were dissatisfied with Globa and his astrology, and instead wished to be proper Zoroastrians and to be initiated by the proper Zoroastrian leaders. Thus, in 2005 the Zoroastrian community within Russia split in two and the Moscow Anjoman was founded, which was established and led by converts who were initiated into the faith, not by Globa, but rather by Mobed Kamran Jamshidi and Bozorg Bazgasht organization. The Bozorg Bazgasht organization was founded by traditional and newly converted Iranian Zarathushtrians living in exile and is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading Zoroastrianism. Most importantly, the ceremonies conducted by Mobed Jamshidi are recognized by the traditional Zarathushtrians of Iran and Anjoman Mobedov of Iran. The Moscow Anjoman was founded by Yuriy Lukashevic who has since adopted the name Jamshid. Some additional info can be found at; http://www.vcn.bc.ca/oshihan/Pages/BelarusE.htm Moscow Anjoman; it’s legitimacy and becoming the leader of Russian Zoroastrians The Moscow Anjoman (also named Russian Anjoman) sees itself as an organization that represents all of the Zoroastrians (vast majority converts to the faith) within the borders of the former USSR, not just Russia. With the vast geography of Russia, and the fact that those interested in Zoroastrianism was not confined to Moscow, but through all of the vastness of the geography of Russia. The Moscow Anjoman has chosen to focus mainly on creating a large online presence, exerting great influence on the (anti-abrahamic) religious discourse on RuNet (Russian Internet) as well as within nationalistic circles. The Moscow Anjoman is in constant contact communication and is in full communion with the Iranian Mobed Council (Anjoman-e Moghān-e Irān) that has accepted both the proselytizing character of Zoroastrianism (i.e. acceptance of converts to the faith) and accepted the appearance of post-Soviet Zoroastrians in Russia and beyond. The Moscow Anjoman has therefore oriented itself with the Iranian Zoroastrians and has rejected the leadership of Pavel Globa and his followers. However, it is important to realize that these two branches of Russian Zoroastrianism, despite their differences, are not in conflict with each other. In fact, the most important issue for them is to ensure cooperation between everyone interested in Zoroastrianism and to actively participate in events outside of Russia. On the main page of their website (zoroastrism.ru), the aims of the organization is described as; One of the major goals of Russian Anjoman is to get the Mazda Yasna recognized by the society and the government as a traditional religion along with Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. To reach this goal, the Russian Anjoman is realizing projects to inform people about Good Faith, to scientifically research the Good Faith, and to organize cultural exchange between Anjoman members and Zoroastrians abroad. One of the most prominent members of the Russian Anjoman, was Konstantin Krylov (1967-2020) a prominent political figure of great importance among Russian nationalists. Revisiting the Zoroastrian community of St. Petersburg; reconciliation and legitimacy In 2007 the Zoroastrian community of St. Petersburg invited a mōbedyār (lowest class of Zoroastrian priest, not from a priestly family) from Yazd, named Kamran Loryan, to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Kamran Loryan conducted new sadrepushi ceremonies with the white kusti for the people initiated by Globa many years ago. Paul Globa participated as well and had religious discussions with the mōbedyār. Loryan In 2008 Kamran Loryan took part in a tour of the Urals organized by the St. Petersburg community and performed sadre-kushti (i.e. initiation ceremony into the faith) for various interested people. Thanks to the efforts of the St. Petersburg community and Kamran Loryan, Russian Zoroastrians who were not part of the legitimized Moscow Anjoman (i.e. the followers of the original organization founded by Pavel Globa) now had contacts with Iranian Zoroastrian reformist priests and even with the head of the Iranian Mōbed Concil who visited St. Petersburg and Moscow in July 2009. Most interestingly, the Zoroastrian Community of St. Petersburg has tried to foster relations with the Parsi of India. One of the St Petersburg “priests”, Mikhail Chistyakov, attempted to undergo a formal priestly initiation (navar ceremony) in February 2010 at the Zoroastrian Collage located approx.. 150 km north of Mumbai, India. Chistyakov was invited by Dame Dr Meher Master- Moos, an active Parsi esotericist. This ceremony would be overseen by Parsi Zoroastrian priests (ervads). However, when news of the traditionalist Parsi community, an enraged group of approx. 40 Parsis invaded the Collage, and Chistyakov was assaulted; forced to return to Russia without completing the navar initiation. Russian Zoroastrians visited Tehran and Yazd in 2006 and 2011 and a Zoroastrian marriage ceremony for a Russian couple from Moscow was conducted in 2008. As of the year 2021, the St Petersburg Zoroastrian community continues to be legally recognized as a religious body by the Russian government and the community continues to celebrate Zoroastrian holydays/festivals and hold weekly liturgy. Zoroastrian Holy Sites in Russia? There are 2 prominent of sites that have become “holy” to Zoroastrians of Russia (and ex-USSR states); one is the archeological site Arkaim in the Chelyabinsk Oblast. Globa’s adherents, the Zoroastrians of St. Petersburg, devote great attention to Arkaim as they view as a site of “prehistorical Zoroastrianism” that was practiced by the Sintashta culture, which they believe are the ancestors of all Russians. Arkaim, discovered in 1987, is an archaeological site in the southern Urals near Magnitogorsk. Best described, it is the stonehenge of Russia. And the other is in Perm; namely the White Mountain or the Zarathushtra’s mountain on the cape Strelka where rivers Kama and Chusovaya flow together Russian Zoroastrians Today With next to no information about the demographics of minority religions like (unfortunately) Zoroastrianism, it is very hard to pinpoint their total population, or to draw them on the map. Yet, it is claimed that there exists Zoroastrians in Russia in the following locations; Perm, St. Petersburg (officially recognized by the Russian government), Chelyabinsk, Moscow, Vladivostok, Sochi, Grodno, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, Kiev, Minsk. A 2007 article claimed that that there were over 200 Zoroastrians of Russian (i.e. non-Iranian) descent in Russia proper, while through the Russian Internet, and through a search of Facebook we find large Zoroastrian groups numbering between approx. 2000 to over 3000 people. There has also been (ongoing) media interest in Zoroastrianism during the last two decades (climaxing in 2006/2007) most remarkably and popularly the interview with the Russian president Vladimir Putin with Iranian TV agency (Islamic Republic News Agency) in 2007 that displayed the influence of Zoroastrianism in Russian politics. For the context of this interview it is important to know that Putin had visited Arkaim two years prior as well as the Chelyabinsk State University which is studying the Arkaim archeological site, promising them financial support. Putin said; “Originally ancient Iranian territories spread from the Near East to India… encompassing also apart of the ex-Soviet Union. Iran is also the land of Zoroastrianism; the source of inspiration for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. However, there is also evidence that Zoroastrianism arose on Russian soil—in the South Urals. Then, in the course of the migration of peoples, the bearers of that religious culture turned up in Iran, among other places.” The interview was also published on the official website of the Russian president and was discussed several times by the Russian press. Putin’s views on Zoroastrianism were also used as self-promotion on the websites of different groups of Russian Zoroastrians. – Further Reading For those who are interested in Zoroastrianism post-USSR; https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/28900/6/gupea_2077_28900_6.pdf https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14755610.2013.838800 zoroastrian.ru/en/ http://zoroastrism.ru/eng/ http://www.bozorgbazgasht.com/English-Events-Russia-2.html Putin on Zoroastrianism; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2j5KdNXaOs