Etymology

Old Believer

Today it means: Any of those who separated from the official Russian Orthodox Church after 1666 as a protest against the church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon between 1652 and 1666. They continue liturgical and ritual practices which predate the reforms. Full definition →

Russian старове́р
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The story

  1. Russian · calque ofстарове́р
  2. English todayOld Believer

Calque of Russian старове́р (starovér).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.