Old Belief graveyard

Karelians

Arkhangelsk province, Kem district, city

1907

Paper (watercolor)

РЭМ 1278-4

The picture shows “golubtsy,” carved or painted wooden sepulchral monuments typical for Old Believers. These structures were placed at the head of a grave. The above-ground part of the wooden pillars was carved as banisters of various shapes. The golubtsy’s base retained the shape of an untreated log. The old-time golubtsy were round, for they were made from logs. At the end of the 19th century, golubtsy began to be made from a thick board, with carving along the outline and on the main surface. In the upper parts of the golubtsy pillar, a carved wooden cross or a small icon in a case was placed. The old-time golubtsy were decorated with carving and bright painting. The Old Believers in Karelia retained the tradition of installation of sepulchral golubtsy up to the mid-20th century. Abstract by L.V. Korolkova