Page 26 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

24 INTRODUCING EST ONIA , LA T VIA AND LITHU ANIA

Religion
Although the Baltic lands were officially Christian by the end
of the 14th century, pagan beliefs persisted and mingled
with the new religion. Protestantism left its mark in the
16th century, but Lithuania soon returned to the Catholic
fold. Today, it is the only Baltic State where the church plays
a major public role – in Estonia and Latvia, the surge in
religious participation after independence in 1991 proved
short-lived. A significant number of ethnic Russians belong Aerial view of the Orthodox Cathedral in
Rīga, Latvia
to the Russian Orthodox church, while other minority
religious groups include Jews and Muslims.
Orthodox Christianity
Orthodox missionaries arrived
in the region as early as the
10th century but had little
success. Orthodox Christianity
was largely eclipsed by
Catholicism, except among
the Setu (see p124). This
changed only under Russian
rule in the 19th century, with
many magnificent Orthodox
churches built at that time.
Today, almost all Orthodox
worshippers in the region are
ethnic Russians. Their churches
Priest performing a Romuva ritual based on ancient pagan beliefs are known for the abundance
of icons – images of Christ,
deities show aspects of one Mary and various saints – often
Paganism
divine being. Pagan over tones displayed in rows on a screen
Christianity came late to the are still present in a number of called an iconostasis. The
Baltic region, with the Grand Christian celebrations. region also contains small
Duchy of Lithuania holding out The first period of indepen- communities of Old Believers
until 1387, a year after Grand dence in the 20th century saw (see p126), descendants of
Duke Jogaila was baptized. The attempts to revive old worshippers who broke away
details of pagan beliefs are traditions. Some local organi- from the Orthodox Church in
sparse, and scholars rely on zations, such as Dievturība in protest against reforms
surviving traditions and folk Latvia, were nationalist in tone. introduced by Patriarch Nikon
songs. Animism, the belief that After years of Soviet margina- in 1652. Bringing Russian
plants and animals possess lization, Dievturība has now Orthodox rites in line with the
spirits, prevailed. Trees had been revived, though the Greek, his motives were both
great significance, with prayers Lithuanian pagan group religious and political. The Old
offered at sacred groves. Romuva has a stronger Believers sought to retain the
Shamans communicated following in the country. purity of their faith, and the
with the gods, but there was
no organized priesthood. For
Latvians and Lithuanians major
deities included Dievs or Dievas
(the Sky God), Saule (the Sun),
Pērkons or Perkūnas (Thunder),
Velns or Velnias (Trickster),
Mēness or Menulis (the Moon)
and Laima (Fate). The Estonians
and Livs (see p176) worshipped
Taara (War), Uku (Thunder and
Lightning), Vanetooni (the Dead),
Maaema (Land), Ahti (Water)
and Vanejumi (Fertility). Some
scholars argue that these various Devotees lined up in Alexander Nevsky Church, Tallinn, Estonia