Russia Church Records: Difference between revisions

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In addition to church books, especially when they are missing, one had the books of those who came to a confession (''Ispowednye rospisi'', ''Исповедные росписи'' in Russian), and books of the marriage investigations (''Brachnye Obyski'', ''Брачные Обыски'' in Russian). These books contain mostly agreements of parents to the marriage of their children, but sometimes also genealogical trees, when there was a question of the relation of bride and groom.  
In addition to church books, especially when they are missing, one had the books of those who came to a confession (''Ispowednye rospisi'', ''Исповедные росписи'' in Russian), and books of the marriage investigations (''Brachnye Obyski'', ''Брачные Обыски'' in Russian). These books contain mostly agreements of parents to the marriage of their children, but sometimes also genealogical trees, when there was a question of the relation of bride and groom.  


A very special source, to which we do not know analogues in other countries, were synodicals, the prayer list for certain deceased people, who were somehow related to that particular church or monastery. That could be a landlord, a priest, but also some peasants and town citizens. To get your family mentioned by such rememberings, one had to pay some money, of course. Some synodicals are very short, and tell only family name. But lots of them are a list of all deceased ancestors, which were known to the person who ordered the synodical. Synodicals of the 17th century are sometimes a unique source for ancient genealogies. Only one problem is with them, - that there was no stable algorythm of the order in which one put his ancestors. So, synodicals could be used only with a help of some information from other sources.  
A very special source, to which we do not know analogues in other countries, were synodicals, the prayer list for certain deceased people, who were somehow related to that particular church or monastery. That could be a landlord, a priest, but also some peasants and town citizens. To get your family mentioned by such rememberings, one had to pay some money, of course. Some synodicals are very short, and tell only family name. But lots of them are a list of all deceased ancestors, which were known to the person who ordered the synodical. Synodicals of the 17th century are sometimes a unique source for ancient genealogies. Only one problem is with them, - that there was no stable algorythm of the order in which one put his ancestors. So, synodicals could be used only with a help of some information from other sources. <br>  
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=== Russian Orthodox Church Records  ===
=== Russian Orthodox Church Records  ===


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Russia mandated the keeping of Roman Catholic registers in 1826. Three copies made, the third for the deanery - ''dekanat'', the level between the diocese and the parish. Aside from Russian Poland, there were five dioceses in 1900: Tiraspol (located in Saratov), Zhytomyr (Zhitomir), Mogilev, Vilnius (Vilno), Kaunus (Kovno).  
Russia mandated the keeping of Roman Catholic registers in 1826. Three copies made, the third for the deanery - ''dekanat'', the level between the diocese and the parish. Aside from Russian Poland, there were five dioceses in 1900: Tiraspol (located in Saratov), Zhytomyr (Zhitomir), Mogilev, Vilnius (Vilno), Kaunus (Kovno).  


The Russian Poland region is a unique situation within the old Russian Empire.&nbsp; After the defeat of Napoleon, the Polish regions governed by Russia were given semi-autonomy.&nbsp; They therefore continued to keep the records, with minor 1826 variations, in the old Napoleonic paragraph form.&nbsp; They were in the Polish language until 1867 when Russian Cyrillic was mandated by the government.&nbsp; More information can be found on the Poland resources pages.
The Russian Poland region is a unique situation within the old Russian Empire.&nbsp; After the defeat of Napoleon, the Polish regions governed by Russia were given semi-autonomy.&nbsp; They therefore continued to keep the records, with minor 1826 variations, in the old Napoleonic paragraph form.&nbsp; They were in the Polish language until 1867 when Russian Cyrillic was mandated by the government.&nbsp; More information can be found on the Poland resources pages.  


=== Lutheran (Evangelical) Church Records  ===
=== Lutheran (Evangelical) Church Records  ===
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In 1832 Russia mandated keeping these records. Aside from Russian Poland, there were eight diocesan offices, one in St. Petersburg, one in Moscow, and six in the Baltic states. The registers were kept in German, until law of 1891 required that they be kept in Russian. The transcripts in St. Petersburg for 1832-1885 have been microfilmed.  
In 1832 Russia mandated keeping these records. Aside from Russian Poland, there were eight diocesan offices, one in St. Petersburg, one in Moscow, and six in the Baltic states. The registers were kept in German, until law of 1891 required that they be kept in Russian. The transcripts in St. Petersburg for 1832-1885 have been microfilmed.  


A significant portion of the St. Petersburg records have been indexed by independent sources, especially covering the southern part of that Diocese in what is now Ukraine.&nbsp; They are as follows:<br>
A significant portion of the St. Petersburg records have been indexed by independent sources, especially covering the southern part of that Diocese in what is now Ukraine.&nbsp; They are as follows:<br>  


[http://www.odessa3.org/collections/stpete/ Germans from Russia Indexing] - In the 1990s, several Germans from Russia groups with dozens of volunteers indexed a large number of the St. Petersburg Lutheran records specifically applicable to Ukraine and Moldova regions of today. They can be browsed at this link. These indices contain numerous errors and should be used with caution. In spite of that, this is a valuable resource as it contains well over a hundred thousand b/m/d records.<br>
[http://www.odessa3.org/collections/stpete/ Germans from Russia Indexing] - In the 1990s, several Germans from Russia groups with dozens of volunteers indexed a large number of the St. Petersburg Lutheran records specifically applicable to Ukraine and Moldova regions of today. They can be browsed at this link. These indices contain numerous errors and should be used with caution. In spite of that, this is a valuable resource as it contains well over a hundred thousand b/m/d records.<br>  


[http://www.sggee.org/research/StPeteBirth.html Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe] - This Society has taken the St. Petersburg Lutheran indices for Volhynia (today northwestern Ukraine regions) originally compiled by the Germans from Russia group referenced above and added new ones for Podolia and Kiev regions. They are also working at correcting errors in the original Volhynia index. They have also added new indices for Lutheran Parishes for Volhynia where the originals are held in Warsaw Archives rather than St. Petersburg. These regions were all part of Russia prior to WW I. The Volhynia portion alone of this index contains over 70,000 entries. That number does not include the additional records indexed as found in Warsaw Archives.&nbsp; A list of Lutheran Records for these regions along with relevant microfilm numbers can be found on the [http://www.sggee.org/research/parishes/church_parishes/LutheransInVolhyniaKievPodolia.html SGGEE website].<br>
[http://www.sggee.org/research/StPeteBirth.html Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe] - This Society has taken the St. Petersburg Lutheran indices for Volhynia (today northwestern Ukraine regions) originally compiled by the Germans from Russia group referenced above and added new ones for Podolia and Kiev regions. They are also working at correcting errors in the original Volhynia index. They have also added new indices for Lutheran Parishes for Volhynia where the originals are held in Warsaw Archives rather than St. Petersburg. These regions were all part of Russia prior to WW I. The Volhynia portion alone of this index contains over 70,000 entries. That number does not include the additional records indexed as found in Warsaw Archives.&nbsp; A list of Lutheran Records for these regions along with relevant microfilm numbers can be found on the [http://www.sggee.org/research/parishes/church_parishes/LutheransInVolhyniaKievPodolia.html SGGEE website].<br>  


The unique situation for Russian Poland also applies to the Lutheran records.&nbsp; The vast majority of Lutheran Church members were Germans who had migrated there during the Partitions of the late 1700s.&nbsp; The records were also in Polish Napoleonic paragraph format until 1867 and Russian Cyrillic after that.&nbsp; It is important to note that registration of b/m/d was a civil obligation.&nbsp; Therefore, prior to the establishment of&nbsp; a Lutheran Church Parish in a given region, Lutherans would register their events at the nearest Roman Catholic Parish.
The unique situation for Russian Poland also applies to the Lutheran records.&nbsp; The vast majority of Lutheran Church members were Germans who had migrated there during the Partitions of the late 1700s.&nbsp; The records were also in Polish Napoleonic paragraph format until 1867 and Russian Cyrillic after that.&nbsp; It is important to note that registration of b/m/d was a civil obligation.&nbsp; Therefore, prior to the establishment of&nbsp; a Lutheran Church Parish in a given region, Lutherans would register their events at the nearest Roman Catholic Parish.  


A list of Lutheran Parishes along with relevant microfilm numbers for Russian Poland can be found on the [http://www.sggee.org/research/parishes/church_parishes/LutheransInRusPoland.html SGGEE website].&nbsp; Many of these (especially from times prior to the introduction or Cyrillic) are being indexed in a Master Pedigree Database.&nbsp; It contains over 500,000 line items and is only available to members.<br>
A list of Lutheran Parishes along with relevant microfilm numbers for Russian Poland can be found on the [http://www.sggee.org/research/parishes/church_parishes/LutheransInRusPoland.html SGGEE website].&nbsp; Many of these (especially from times prior to the introduction or Cyrillic) are being indexed in a Master Pedigree Database.&nbsp; It contains over 500,000 line items and is only available to members.<br>  


Additional information about Lutherans in Russian Poland can be found on the Poland resource page.<br>
Additional information about Lutherans in Russian Poland can be found on the Poland resource page.<br>  


=== Old Believer Church Records  ===
=== Old Believer Church Records  ===
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Civil registration was mandated in 1879. Two copies, one in the provincial administration and the other in the regional police headquarters - ''uezdnoye politseiskoye upravleniye''.  
Civil registration was mandated in 1879. Two copies, one in the provincial administration and the other in the regional police headquarters - ''uezdnoye politseiskoye upravleniye''.  


No Baptist Church records are known to exist for Volhynia or other parts of modern day Ukraine, formerly part of Russia.&nbsp; Some limited Baptist Records for Russian Poland have been found as indicated on the [http://www.sggee.org/research/parishes/church_parishes/BaptistInRusPoland.html SGGEE website].<br>
No Baptist Church records are known to exist for Volhynia or other parts of modern day Ukraine, formerly part of Russia.&nbsp; Some limited Baptist Records for Russian Poland have been found as indicated on the [http://www.sggee.org/research/parishes/church_parishes/BaptistInRusPoland.html SGGEE website].<br>  


=== Muslim Records  ===
=== Muslim Records  ===
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In 1828 and 1832 Russia mandated keeping these records. Two copies were filed, one in the mosque and the other in either Orenburg or Simferopol or Tavri. The mandate was extended to the Transcaucasus in 1872.  
In 1828 and 1832 Russia mandated keeping these records. Two copies were filed, one in the mosque and the other in either Orenburg or Simferopol or Tavri. The mandate was extended to the Transcaucasus in 1872.  


=== FamilySearch Historical Record Collections  ===
'''Wiki articles describing online collections are found at:'''
 
Online collections containing these records are located in [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list FamilySearch.org]
 
Wiki articles describing these collections are found at:  


*[[Russia, St. Petersburg Lutheran Church Book Duplicates (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]<br>  
*[[Russia, St. Petersburg Lutheran Church Book Duplicates (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]<br>  
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