Sound and Movement
Sound and movement play an immensely important role in Orthodox religious life, from cross processions around churches to zealously crossing oneself, from sonorous singing during the holy liturgy to the fervent words of preachers in churches, schools, and beyond. In this section, we present rare archival video footage from across the twentieth century, portraying various moments in the sacred lives of Estonian, Russian, and Seto Orthodox.
We are grateful to the Estonian Film Archive for granting us permission to post these videos/links and to Catherine Gibson for preparing the descriptions.
No. 1: Journey through Setomaa (1913), Estonia Film Tartu
Ethnographic film about Setumaa. Views of Petseri Monastery. Peasants working in the fields, rye cutting, brick making. People at the Petseri fair. Easter procession and the feast of the remembrance of the dead in Võõpsu. Village views, Setu women posing, Setu dancing, beggars on the church porch.
No. 2: Holidays in Petseri/Pechory (Easter in Petseri/Pechory) (1936), Eesti Kultuurfilm
Easter (Resurrection) in Petseri/Pechory. Views of the monastery and the city of Petseri/Pechory. People at the pre-holiday market, buying animals, pottery, etc. People queuing in a liquor shop. Cleaning up apartments and streets. Cross procession around the monastery. People going to church.
No. 3: Water consecration in Petseri/Pechory Monastery (1938), Eesti Kultuurfilm
Views of the monastery. People leaving the church. Consecration of water and distribution of consecrated water.
No. 4: Visit of Patriarch Aleksii II of Moscow and All Russia to Estonia (1990), Tallinnfilm and kroonika
No. 5: Pühtitsa Convent (1996), Eesti kroonika
Film introducing the monastery; church holiday; bell ringing. Present: Archbishop Cornelius of Tallinn and all Estonia, Sister Mitrofania, and Patriarch Aleksii II of Moscow and all Russia