Studying north Russia's folk historical legends about the old believers (using the material of Simeon Gavrilov's literary writings)

The article analyzes folk historical legends as part of the literary writings of Simeon Gavrilov (1842-1917), an Old Believer and a scribe from the North Dvina River area. These legends were recorded by him from the local inhabitants in Pomorye and Obonezhye, as well as on the banks of the Pinega and North Dvina rivers with the purpose of finding the Old Belief roots in North Russia. The article offers comments and additions to Neonila A. Krinichnaya's publications on the narrative and thematic cycle of folk historical legends about the Old Believers. Guided by N. Krinichnaya's works, the author identifies folk historical legends about the founding of hermitages, the Old Believers' deaths by the hands of oppressors and their self-immolations, as well as about their relations with historical figures, such as Catherine II and Nicolas I, in Simeon Gavrilov's writings. A religious basis is what the Old Believers' historical narratives have in common with the genre of a legend, whilst the sources of their motifs can be found in hagiography, the Scriptures and folk religious verses. It is concluded that the Old Believers' literary landmarks of North Russia are of value for studying folklore.