Cheremshanka, Altai Republic

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Cheremshanka

|other_name =

|native_name = Черемшанка

|nickname =

|settlement_type = Settlement

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|pushpin_map = Russia Altai Republic#Russia

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|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = Russia

|subdivision_type1 = Region

|subdivision_name1 = Altai Republic

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name2 =

|subdivision_type3 = District

|subdivision_name3 = Mayminsky District

|subdivision_type4 = Municipality

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|timezone1 =

|utc_offset1 = +7:00

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|coordinates = {{coord|51|52|N|85|46|E|display=inline}}[https://mapdata.ru/altay/mayminskiy-rayon/poselok-cheremshanka/ Карта поселка Черемшанка в республике Алтай]

}}

Cheremshanka ({{langx|ru|Черемшанка}}; {{langx|alt|Калбалу}}, Kalbalu) is a rural locality (a selo) in Souzginskoye Rural Settlement of Mayminsky District, the Altai Republic, Russia. The population was 445 as of 2016.{{cite web|url=http://statra.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_ts/statra/resources/f42c57004c34285a8f63efb4bce00d93/%D0%9E%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%B0+%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8+%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE+%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F+%D0%BF%D0%BE+%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%BC+%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BC+%D0%B7%D0%B0+2011-2015+%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%8B.docx|website=statra.gks.ru|title=Оценка численности постоянного населения Республики Алтай по населённым пунктам за 2012-2016 годы|accessdate=2018-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304173441/http://statra.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_ts/statra/resources/f42c57004c34285a8f63efb4bce00d93/%D0%9E%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%B0+%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8+%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE+%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F+%D0%BF%D0%BE+%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%BC+%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BC+%D0%B7%D0%B0+2011-2015+%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%8B.docx|archive-date=2019-03-04|url-status=dead}}

Geography

Cheremshanka is located on the Katun River, 22 km south of Mayma (the district's administrative centre) by road. There are 8 streets. Turbaza "Yunost" is the nearest rural locality.[http://allroutes.ru/rasstoyanie_cheremshanka_majma Расстояние от Черемшанки до Маймы] Cheremshanka is located near Mount Sukhaya and Tiberkul Lake.{{Cite web |title=Озеро Тиберкуль |url=https://en.visitsiberia.info/ozero-tiberkul.html |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=en.visitsiberia.info |language=ru}}

Culture

Cheremshanka is home to Old Believers and to the followers of Vissarion, who was born Sergei Torop and is believed to be the reborn Jesus Christ. He is the founder of the Church of the Last Testament.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-21 |title=Meet Five Men Who All Think They’re the Messiah |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/new-messiahs-jesus-christ-second-coming-photos |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=National Geographic Magazine |language=en}}

Cheremshanka is one of several eco-villages inhabited by the followers of Vissarion near Tiberkul Lake. The villages comprise the Abode of Dawn settlement and include the villages of Gulyaevka, Petropavlovka, Tyukhtyat, and Zharovsk.{{Cite web |title=Community of Vissarion — Виссарион и Община Виссариона/ Vissarion and Community of Vissarion |url=https://vissarion.ru/en/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |language=ru-RU}}

Local legend states that Tiberkul Lake marks the way to the mythical Belovodye.

= Religion =

The Christian community believes in reincarnation, veganism, harmonious human relations, and predicting the end of the world.{{cite web |last=Obscura |first=Atlas |date=16 July 2013 |title=Russian Cult May be The Largest Religious Reservation In The World |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2013/07/16/russian_cult_may_be_the_largest_religious_reservation_in_the_world.html |access-date=1 November 2013 |work=Slate |quote=combines elements of the Russian Orthodox Church with Buddhism, apocalypticism, collectivism, and ecological values. ... Vissarion has predicted the end of the world several times. He teaches reincarnation and civility and requires his adherents to live a life free from vices.}} The Church of the Last Testament follows many aspects of the Russian Orthodox Church in addition to aspects of Buddhism and Taoism.{{Cite news |date=2015-08-19 |title=Inside the Siberian sect of Vissarion - in pictures |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2015/aug/19/russian-siberian-sect-vissarion-in-pictures |access-date=2025-03-21 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

= Cuisine =

Since the 20th century, the Christian community has been all-vegetarian, with honey being their only animal-derived food source. The residents of Cheremshanka eat locally-grown food staples that include rye, wheat, buckwheat, millet, rice, peas, lentils, and soybeans. These staples are supplemented with potatoes, carrots, beets, radishes, cabbage, onions, squash, apples, wild berries, dried fruits, nettle, dandelions, mushrooms, and Siberian pine nuts.{{Cite web |title=An Almost Vegan Haven in the Siberian Wilderness: The Remarkable Story of Cheremshanka - IVU - International Vegetarian Union |url=https://ivu.org/history-legacy-pages/the-history-of-vegetarian-thought-and-practice/articles/2330-an-almost-vegan-haven-in-the-siberian-wilderness-the-remarkable-story-of-cheremshanka.html |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=ivu.org}}

References

Category:Rural localities in Mayminsky District