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Ernests Brastiņš

Ernests Brastiņš (19 March 1892 – 28 January 1942) was a Latvian artist, amateur historian, folklorist and archaeologist. He is known as the founder and driving force behind the neopagan religion Dievturība, which he started in the 1920s and which was re-established after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Ernests Brastiņš
Portrait of Ernests Brastiņš on his memorial stone in Riga
Born(1892-10-15)15 October 1892
Died28 January 1942(1942-01-28) (aged 49)
NationalityLatvian
EducationStieglitz Art Academy
Occupation(s)Artist, museum director, religious leader

Biography

Ernests Brastiņš was educated at the Stieglitz Art Academy in Saint Petersburg from 1911 to 1915. After military service in World War I and the Latvian War of Independence he became the director of the Latvian War Museum. During his time at the museum he studied Latvian history, Latvian ethnography, folk art and symbols, and investigated around 300 Latvian hill forts and the folklore connected to them.[1]

In 1925, Brastiņš co-wrote a neopagan manifesto with Kārlis Marovskis-Bregžis, titled Latviešu dievturības atjaunojums (lit.'The Restoration of Latvian Dievturība'). This marked the beginning of Dievturība, a Baltic neopagan religion based on pre-Christian Baltic religion, Latvian folk culture, and especially the folk songs known as dainas. The word Dievturība roughly means "the people who hold or live according to God's laws".[1] With its focus on folklore and national character, the Dievturība movement carried on a cultural inheritance from the 19th-century Young Latvians movement.[1] Brastiņš founded the first Dievturība organization with Marovskis-Bregžis in 1926, but due to disagreements he founded a new organization the year after with his sculptor brother, Arvīds Brastiņš.[2]

Brastiņš' published works include three books on Latvian folk songs (1928–1929) and Dievtur̦u cerokslis (lit.'The Intentions of Dievturi', 1932) which outlines the principles of Dievturība, modeled on Luther's Small Catechism.[1][3] Having attracted prominent artists and intellectuals to the movement, Brastiņš unsuccessfully tried to have Dievturība adopted as the official state religion of Latvia.[4]

After the 1934 Latvian coup d'état the movement was forced to re-register as a secular organization. Brastiņš' research as well as his religious engagements were terminated with the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940.[1] He was arrested by the Soviet security services on 6 July 1940. On 24 May 1941, he was sentenced to eight years in a correctional labour camp in Russia for having founded and led the Dievturība organization. He was put on another trial in Russia on 27 January 1942 and was sentenced to death.[3] The execution was carried out the following day.[1]

Legacy

 
The southern side of the Ernests Brastiņš monument in Riga

During the Soviet era the Dievturība religion primarily lived on abroad in Latvian émigré communities. These varied in their view of it as a religion or just as a way to preserve Latvian traditions. The movement was officially re-registered in Latvia on 18 April 1990. Its contemporary adherents recognize Brastiņš as its founder and leading ideologue.[1]

On 26 October 2006, a monument to Brastiņš was unveiled in the Kronvald Park in central Riga, close to the Riga Congress Hall. The four and a half meter tall stone monument features an embedded bronze disc with a relief portrait of Brastiņš on its northern side, and on its southern side a sun symbol and the words "Tautai" (Folk), "Dievam" (God) and "Tēvijai" (Fatherland). It was made by the sculptor Uldis Sterģis [lv] in collaboration with the stonecutter Robertu Zvagūzis and the medal artist Jānis Strupulis.[5]

Bibliography

Year Title Publisher
1923 Latviešu ornamentika
1923–1930 Latvijas pilskalni (1. Kuršu Zeme - 2. Zemgale un Augšzeme - 3. Latgale - 4. Vidzeme)
1925 Latviešu dievturības atjaunojums
1925 Latvju rakstu kompozīcija
1927 Daiļa sēta
1929 Latvju gadskārtas dziesmas Latvju dievtur̦u draudzes izdevums
1932 Dievturu cerokslis Latvijas dievtur̦u sadraudzes izdevums
1936 Latvijas zvaigznes
1936 Tautības mācība
1938 Samulsuma pārspēšana: pareizības filozofijas pamatdomas Zemnieka Domas

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Ozoliņš, Gatis (2014). "The Dievturi movement in Latvia as invention of tradition". In Aitamurto, Kaarina; Simpson, Scott (eds.). Modern Pagan and Native Faith Movements in Central and Eastern Europe. Acumen Publishing. ISBN 978-1-8446-5663-9.
  2. ^ Hanovs & Tēraudkalns 2016.
  3. ^ a b Stasulane, Anita; Ozoliņš, Gatis (2017). "Transformations of Neopaganism in Latvia: From Survival to Revival". Open Theology. 2 (3): 235–244. doi:10.1515/opth-2017-0019. ISSN 2300-6579.
  4. ^ Pourchier-Plasseraud, Suzanne (2015). Arts and a Nation: The Role of Visual Arts and Artists in the Making of the Latvian Identity, 1905-1940. Brill; Rodopi. p. 76. doi:10.1163/9789004300286. ISBN 978-90-04-30028-6.
  5. ^ Riga monument agency.

Sources

  • Hanovs, Deniss; Tēraudkalns, Valdis (2016). "The Return of the Gods? Authoritarian Culture and Neo-Paganism in Interwar Latvia, 1934–1940". In Smith, David J. (ed.). Latvia—A Work in Progress?: 100 Years of State- and Nation-Building. Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 9783838267180.
  • "Piemineklis etnogrāfam un dievturim Ernestam Brastiņam (1892-942)" (in Latvian). Riga monument agency. Retrieved 23 October 2019.

Further reading

  • Celmiņa-Ķeirāne, Austra (2014). Mitoloģiskā tematika Ernesta Brastiņa un Arvīda Brastiņa mākslā [Mythological Themes in the Artworks of Ernests Brastiņš and Arvīds Brastiņš]. Arts and Music in Cultural Discourse. Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference (in Latvian). pp. 186–191. doi:10.17770/amcd2014.1334.

External links

ernests, brastiņš, march, 1892, january, 1942, latvian, artist, amateur, historian, folklorist, archaeologist, known, founder, driving, force, behind, neopagan, religion, dievturība, which, started, 1920s, which, established, after, fall, soviet, union, portra. Ernests Brastins 19 March 1892 28 January 1942 was a Latvian artist amateur historian folklorist and archaeologist He is known as the founder and driving force behind the neopagan religion Dievturiba which he started in the 1920s and which was re established after the fall of the Soviet Union Ernests BrastinsPortrait of Ernests Brastins on his memorial stone in RigaBorn 1892 10 15 15 October 1892Lielstraupes pagasts Governorate of LivoniaDied28 January 1942 1942 01 28 aged 49 Russian SFSR Soviet UnionNationalityLatvianEducationStieglitz Art AcademyOccupation s Artist museum director religious leader Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Bibliography 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Sources 5 Further reading 6 External linksBiography EditErnests Brastins was educated at the Stieglitz Art Academy in Saint Petersburg from 1911 to 1915 After military service in World War I and the Latvian War of Independence he became the director of the Latvian War Museum During his time at the museum he studied Latvian history Latvian ethnography folk art and symbols and investigated around 300 Latvian hill forts and the folklore connected to them 1 In 1925 Brastins co wrote a neopagan manifesto with Karlis Marovskis Bregzis titled Latviesu dievturibas atjaunojums lit The Restoration of Latvian Dievturiba This marked the beginning of Dievturiba a Baltic neopagan religion based on pre Christian Baltic religion Latvian folk culture and especially the folk songs known as dainas The word Dievturiba roughly means the people who hold or live according to God s laws 1 With its focus on folklore and national character the Dievturiba movement carried on a cultural inheritance from the 19th century Young Latvians movement 1 Brastins founded the first Dievturiba organization with Marovskis Bregzis in 1926 but due to disagreements he founded a new organization the year after with his sculptor brother Arvids Brastins 2 Brastins published works include three books on Latvian folk songs 1928 1929 and Dievtur u cerokslis lit The Intentions of Dievturi 1932 which outlines the principles of Dievturiba modeled on Luther s Small Catechism 1 3 Having attracted prominent artists and intellectuals to the movement Brastins unsuccessfully tried to have Dievturiba adopted as the official state religion of Latvia 4 After the 1934 Latvian coup d etat the movement was forced to re register as a secular organization Brastins research as well as his religious engagements were terminated with the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 1 He was arrested by the Soviet security services on 6 July 1940 On 24 May 1941 he was sentenced to eight years in a correctional labour camp in Russia for having founded and led the Dievturiba organization He was put on another trial in Russia on 27 January 1942 and was sentenced to death 3 The execution was carried out the following day 1 Legacy Edit The southern side of the Ernests Brastins monument in Riga During the Soviet era the Dievturiba religion primarily lived on abroad in Latvian emigre communities These varied in their view of it as a religion or just as a way to preserve Latvian traditions The movement was officially re registered in Latvia on 18 April 1990 Its contemporary adherents recognize Brastins as its founder and leading ideologue 1 On 26 October 2006 a monument to Brastins was unveiled in the Kronvald Park in central Riga close to the Riga Congress Hall The four and a half meter tall stone monument features an embedded bronze disc with a relief portrait of Brastins on its northern side and on its southern side a sun symbol and the words Tautai Folk Dievam God and Tevijai Fatherland It was made by the sculptor Uldis Stergis lv in collaboration with the stonecutter Robertu Zvaguzis and the medal artist Janis Strupulis 5 Bibliography EditYear Title Publisher1923 Latviesu ornamentika1923 1930 Latvijas pilskalni 1 Kursu Zeme 2 Zemgale un Augszeme 3 Latgale 4 Vidzeme 1925 Latviesu dievturibas atjaunojums1925 Latvju rakstu kompozicija1927 Daila seta1929 Latvju gadskartas dziesmas Latvju dievtur u draudzes izdevums1932 Dievturu cerokslis Latvijas dievtur u sadraudzes izdevums1936 Latvijas zvaigznes1936 Tautibas maciba1938 Samulsuma parspesana pareizibas filozofijas pamatdomas Zemnieka DomasReferences EditCitations Edit a b c d e f g Ozolins Gatis 2014 The Dievturi movement in Latvia as invention of tradition In Aitamurto Kaarina Simpson Scott eds Modern Pagan and Native Faith Movements in Central and Eastern Europe Acumen Publishing ISBN 978 1 8446 5663 9 Hanovs amp Teraudkalns 2016 a b Stasulane Anita Ozolins Gatis 2017 Transformations of Neopaganism in Latvia From Survival to Revival Open Theology 2 3 235 244 doi 10 1515 opth 2017 0019 ISSN 2300 6579 Pourchier Plasseraud Suzanne 2015 Arts and a Nation The Role of Visual Arts and Artists in the Making of the Latvian Identity 1905 1940 Brill Rodopi p 76 doi 10 1163 9789004300286 ISBN 978 90 04 30028 6 Riga monument agency Sources Edit Hanovs Deniss Teraudkalns Valdis 2016 The Return of the Gods Authoritarian Culture and Neo Paganism in Interwar Latvia 1934 1940 In Smith David J ed Latvia A Work in Progress 100 Years of State and Nation Building Soviet and Post Soviet Politics and Society New York Columbia University Press ISBN 9783838267180 Piemineklis etnografam un dievturim Ernestam Brastinam 1892 942 in Latvian Riga monument agency Retrieved 23 October 2019 Further reading EditCelmina keirane Austra 2014 Mitologiska tematika Ernesta Brastina un Arvida Brastina maksla Mythological Themes in the Artworks of Ernests Brastins and Arvids Brastins Arts and Music in Cultural Discourse Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference in Latvian pp 186 191 doi 10 17770 amcd2014 1334 External links EditWorks by Ernests Brastins at the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ernests Brastins amp oldid 1121812974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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