Graveyards: Russian ritual and belief pertaining to the dead Michel Bouchard Department of Anthropology, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada Abstract The age-old tradition of feasting the dead has been maintained by Russian populations for well over five centuries. Graveyards hold a special place both in traditional Orthodox faith and in the lives of Russians and others in the city of Narva, Estonia. The tradition of feasting the dead for three, nine and forty days after death, can be traced unbroken to pre-Christian Rus’. Details may vary, but always the soul of the deceased must battle its way out of the body and then spend time in both heaven and hell. While this journey is occurring, the living must remember the dead, helping their souls during this period of travail. Even a final feast one year after the death of the individual does not end the relationship between the living and the deceased, for the graves are still visited on a regular basis as a sign of respect to the dead, who are potential saints in the Russian Orthodox tradition. This ‘saintly’ land d Russian graves d defines homeland and roots the population to a new area. By examining the importance of graveyards to Russians, to the ethnic Komi of Northern Russia, and other Eastern Europeans, I demonstrate that a sense of place is maintained in these rituals of daily life. Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Central to the religious practices of innumerable cultures are rites about death. Among the Russians, a rich burial tradition developed over centuries combining both pagan and Christian elements. Of particular importance is the visiting of graveyards, the homes of the dead (see Froianov et al., 1992; Hamant, 1991; Obolensky, 1975; Zernor,1961). The Soviet Union did much to liquidate the religious faiths of its citizens, including Russian Orthodoxy. Churches were often desecrated and even destroyed. Nevertheless, certain rituals persisted, notably those rituals and practices relating to death and graveyards. The study of graveyards is important for understanding not only the survival E-mail address: michel@unbc.ca 0048-721X/$ - see front matter Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.religion.2004.09.009 Religion 34 (2004) 345–362 www.elsevier.com/locate/religion