“Old faith” in a “fairytale village”: Old Believer communities and modern tourist infrastructure

Abstract

The article analyzes the impact of tourism infrastructure on religious communities. As an example, two Old Believer communities located in the Russian North-West are considered. By becoming a point on the map of tourist routes, these communities receive an additional impulse for development. On the other hand, demonstrating faith and attracting a large number of tourists to the community environment conflicts with the conservative attitudes of the Old Believers and a number of ritual instructions. Thanks to this a unique new understanding of the entertainment industry is being developed among community leaders and religious activists as a mechanism for the revival of traditions and preaching of faith. The examples given in the article prove the direct interdependence between the growth of tourism and religious infrastructure itself, including prayer buildings, revered objects, guest houses, etc.