Permic Folk Religions

Permic traditions faced Christian missions in the lands of the Komi and Udmurt peoples. In 1376 Stephen of Perm began preaching along the Vychegda and Vym rivers; he destroyed sacred birches and became the first bishop of Perm in 1383.

Among the Udmurts, Ivan IV granted privileges to baptized families in 1557. In the mid-eighteenth century, a stronger campaign sent missionaries to build churches and schools, while sacred groves and traditional places of prayer were destroyed.