Russian Molokans

[Bigfoot]

A group of them in Canada were in a sect called “Dukhobors”. The Canadian government did a variety of disgusting things to them, such as seizing their children and putting them in residential schools. The parents could only see them through a chain link fence.

The Doukhobors are actually quite different.

Are they closer to Russian Mennonites?

[Heirbyadoption]

(I was born and raised a Russian Molokan [Jumper] in Southern California.)

Bumping this up, would still be interested in your replies if you're around, Disciple. Thanks.

So a couple questions, as an ex-Cali boy myself...

1. You mentioned San Francisco - I didn't realize the Potrero Hill folks were still active. Is it just older ones at this point?
2. Were you down in Whittier (Los Angeles) or up around Kerman/Fresno? My late grandfather used to mingle with some of the ones down around Whittier, and I used to know a pair of brothers from the Kerman Molokans who were truck drivers and hauled mulch for us out of Modesto, though I forget their names...
3. Also, did/do the Molokans have any interaction with the Dukhobortsy after leaving Russia?
4. Are any of the contemporary Molokans still nonresistant/pacifists?

[disciple]

(I was born and raised a Russian Molokan [Jumper] in Southern California.)

Bumping this up, would still be interested in your replies if you're around, Disciple. Thanks.

So a couple questions, as an ex-Cali boy myself...

1. You mentioned San Francisco - I didn't realize the Potrero Hill folks were still active. Is it just older ones at this point?
2. Were you down in Whittier (Los Angeles) or up around Kerman/Fresno? My late grandfather used to mingle with some of the ones down around Whittier, and I used to know a pair of brothers from the Kerman Molokans who were truck drivers and hauled mulch for us out of Modesto, though I forget their names...
3. Also, did/do the Molokans have any interaction with the Dukhobortsy after leaving Russia?
4. Are any of the contemporary Molokans still nonresistant/pacifists?

Sure thing!

1. The group in Potrero Hill is pretty tiny, and pretty much just older folks. I have never attended there, but spoke with a cousin who went there a year or so ago for a funeral. He was trying to get me to come back to the Molokans, by selling me on the SF church. =)

2. Born and raised in Whittier til I got married.

3. There was a tiny bit of interaction right when they all got here, but none as a group for 100 years, and very little personally. Usually it is just those who are particularly interested in history etc. I have heard of a few guys in the past 50 years who found Dukhoboors, and visited them.

4. They are still basically nonresistant, but wouldn't use that term. They don't really love their enemies generally, but they have a pretty strong "don't join the military" stance. C.O. is the main term they use. There are definitely those who have a simple "obey Jesus" faith and would have a conscience against killing. My father served C.O. service during Vietnam and worked at Goodwill for that. He always told us the story of standing before the five generals and their big cigars, and how God gave him words to answer them.