Paper short abstract:

The paper deals with adaptive strategies of Russian sectarians living in Armenia since 19th century. We will discuss the ways of their adaptation to the very different culture, and the inner potential of Armenia as a former cultural province of Russian Empire to adapt the Russian religious minorities.

Paper long abstract:

In the 19th century the sectarians were the main part of Russian ethnos in East Armenia. They were exiled there by Russian authorities who had intended to stop sectarian's «dangerous» influence on their orthodox neighbors, and have found their new homeland in Armenia. The paper deals with the adaptive mode of two groups which are still living in Armenia - the Molokans and the Subbotniks. The sectarians identity was constructed by opposing themselves to the Armenian neighbors from the one side and to the orthodox Russians from another. This double denial helped sectarians to save their own originality and despite it to become the indigenous at the same time. The research is mostly based on fieldwork consisting of interviews with representatives and leaders of these sects in Yerevan and Sevan.