All That Remains
Russian Life|November/December 2020
Tracing own family lineage back to 1667
Yevgenia Volunkova
All That Remains

Seventy-eight-year-old Alexander Razeyev spent five years in the archives, piecing together the history of his native village, Maloye Ishutkino. He traced his own family lineage back to 1667 and then explored the family histories of the rest of the village’s current residents.

The retiree organized his findings into chapters and told the story of Maloye Ishutkino in the best literary language he knew. And then, at the end of 2019, he published The Village of Maloye Ishutkino and its Residents. He thought people would welcome his work. They did not.

Apparently, not everyone likes to reflect on the past, and many would simply prefer to close their eyes to their family history.

The Collective Farmer

Maloye Ishutkino, population 217, is a tiny Chuvash village in Samara Oblast. Before Alexander Lukich Razeyev* became interested in its history, there was basically no easily available information about it.

Alexander Lukich and his wife Irina live in a small home across the street from the ancient Church of the Archangel Michael. A long chapter in Razeyev’s book is devoted to the church.

Snow white hens bandy about the Razeyevs’ irreproachably tidy yard. The home has well-scrubbed floors, and the mirror and television have been covered with white tablecloths. Two weeks ago in Moscow, for reasons as yet unknown, their son Alexander passed away. Irina’s eyes are swollen shut from crying, but Alexander is holding it together.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November/December 2020-Ausgabe von Russian Life.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November/December 2020-Ausgabe von Russian Life.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS RUSSIAN LIFEAlle anzeigen
Sidewalk Art
Russian Life

Sidewalk Art

The lamentable state of Russia’s roads and sidewalks has long been fertile ground for memes and jokes. Irkutsk artist Ivan Kravchenko decided to turn the problem into an art project. For over two years he has been patching ruts in city sidewalks with colorful ceramic tiles.

time-read
6 Minuten  |
March/April 2021
Sputnik V: First Place or Long Shot?
Russian Life

Sputnik V: First Place or Long Shot?

The Russian vaccine seems top-notch, but low public trust and a botched rollout remain formidable barriers to returning to normalcy.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
March/April 2021
Russian Life

the Valley of the Dead

On the Trail of a Russian Movie Star

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
March/April 2021
Food & Drink
Russian Life

Food & Drink

Food & Drink

time-read
4 Minuten  |
March/April 2021
Russian Life

POLAR YOUTH

Misha Smirnov has the day off. There are the traditional eggs for breakfast and the usual darkness out the window.

time-read
9 Minuten  |
March/April 2021
Russian Chronicles
Russian Life

Russian Chronicles

Russian Chronicles

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
March/April 2021
Russian Life

A People on the Brink

Over the past century, the ancient people known as the Votes has been exiled twice, has seen its language banned, and has faced the threat of having its villages razed. Today, although teetering on the verge of extinction, it holds fast to one of the last rights it enjoys – the right to bear and to say its own name.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
March/April 2021
Tenders of the Vine
Russian Life

Tenders of the Vine

Visiting Russia’s Nascent Wine Region

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
January/February 2021
Restoring the Future
Russian Life

Restoring the Future

A Small Town Gets a Makeover

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
January/February 2021
Ascending Anik
Russian Life

Ascending Anik

Here I stand, on the summit of Anik Mountain, drenched to the bone amid zero visibility, driving rain, and a fierce wind.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
January/February 2021