Cult of Saint Nicholas in the popular beliefs of the Izhma Komi: actualization and strategies for image preservation

The article is based on author's field materials which were obtained from the Izhma Komi in the Komi Republic and in the Siberian North (The Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug) in the 2000s. St. Nicholas is one of the most popular saints among the northern Komi. St. Nicholas appears in many legends and traditions of the Komi as a multifunctional deity, not always associated with the Christian Orthodox cult. Popular Christian image of Nicholas the Wonderworker combined the functions of the family patron spirit and threatening forest master who was able to control the natural elements - wind, fire, and water. Later adoption of Christianity by the Komi compared to the Russians might have resulted in transferring of pagan beliefs to St. Nicholas, who became their particularly vivid embodiment. This ensured the viability of his image in the traditional culture of the Izhma Komi.