ИСТИНА

The arrangement and worshiping of votive crosses (“obetnye kresty”) seems to be the original tradition of Russian North, especially Arkhangelsk area. But some aspects of this worshipping that can be particularly seen in some remote districts of the mentioned area afford a basis for conclusions of the “pre-Russian” genesis of this type of sacred places. The data concerning this topic were collected during field works in Pinega and Leshukonskoye districts in august of 2010. We have gathered information about two types of atypical cross worshipping. The first one is represented by a unique . It is the “old woman`s stub” (“babushkin pen`”) near Vozhgora-village. Some of local people say, that some time ago there was a cross there, which broke down. The stub is still worshipped as though it is a cross by a part of village residents. The second type is widespread in river Vashka basin. It is group (up to 40) of votive crosses in the same place, especially near little brooks. The cult includes some actions, that seem to a kind of sympathetic magic. The local people bring articles of clothing, food (bread, sweets) and coins to them. Votive crosses’ worshipping is a clear example of Christianity/Paganism and Russian-culture/Nenets-culture syncretism. The “old woman” is a typical personage of nenets-people myths. The nenets sacred places are often known as the old woman death place. The worshipping of the groups of votive crosses have some parallels with worshipping of sacred grooves. The further study of these cult objects permit us see the place of nenets-culture substratum in the culture of modern Russian North inhabitants. It also allow to assert the heredity in use of the sacred places.