Old believers self-immolation: a problem of leadership

Article deals with the problem of mass ritual suicide on religious grounds. Particular attention is paid to the problem of leadership in environment of members of self-immolation. Revealed that the main actors in the organization of the self-immolations were "elders" -specially prepared for this difficult role, members of old believers movement. They were assigned duties related to the preparation of burning. As a rule, they controlled the situation until the last minute, and died there with his followers.