Introduction
This is a report on the background of the Subbotniki compiled from available research material and personal recollections. My mother's family was Molokan.1 My father's great-grandparents were of Molokan origin and who became Subbotniki while living in the Trans-caucasus region of the Russian Empire during the second half of the 19th century. There is not a central source of information on the Subbotniki nor has much been written recently about them. Since the Subbotniki have essentially died out as an organized religion, I feel it is important to document what I have found though searching used-book stores, the Internet and other sources.
This particular report focuses on the Subbotniki of Molokan origin from the Trans-caucacus rregion that migrated with the Molokans to Los Angeles in the first decade of the 20th century. I have also included general background on Judaized Russians from other backgrounds, time periods and regions in order to place my ancestors into a greater historical context.
This project continues to be helpful to me in gaining a better understanding of my ancestral roots. I hope it will also be of interest to other readers. More importantly, I hope this report will stimulate others to share information they may have concerning the Subbotniki so we can continue to expand and complete their story.
Notes
The Molokans are a non-Orthodox Russian Christian religious sect that embraces many Old Testaments tenets and is often compared with the Quakers. There is a great deal of published information on the Molokans including several Internet sites such as http://www.molokane.org/molokan
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Illustrations
Chapter 3 — Map: "Russia In Europe", c. 1898
Map: "Origins of Subbotniki"
Photo: "The Village of Semenovka", 1895
Photo: "At Jelenovka", 1895
Chapter 5 — Photo: "Arrival of Steerage Passengers at Bremerhaven."
Photo: "Lloyd Waiting Rooms, Bremerhaven."
Photo: "Embarkment of Steerage Passengers."
Photo: "S.S. Frankfurt"
Chapter 6 — Photo: "Los Angeles Subbotnik trustees present UMCA Board of Directors with
treasury fund remaining after dissolving congregation in 1971." 9 people.
Photo: "Funeral of Esai Davitevitch URKOV"
Photo: "Funeral of Esai Davitevitch URKOV" (close-up)
Photo: "Photo of original Subbotniki burial area in the Home of Peace cemetery."
Photo: "Tombstones of Esther Vasilievna (Pivovaroff) and her husband Joseph
Yegorovich Aldacushion with that of Stephan Ivanovich Moiseiev in the background".
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