Photographer captures the ancient traditions of Russia's Mari Pagans

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Irina Chmyreva

Women cooking sacrificed geese during a religious ceremony in the sacred woods. Credit Tatiana Plotnikova

RUSSIA---(Despite) centuries of oppression that continued during the Soviet Union, some Russian Pagans living in remote settlements still hold fast to their beliefs. Tatiana Plotnikova, a Russian photographer, has documented some of the most sacred Pagan sites near isolated villages in the Mari El Republic, along the Volga River. The Mari Pagans’ religion is based on respect for the elements of nature, and they hold their religious gatherings in sacred groves in the forest where they pray, cook and eat. [link]