The Audio Long Read A century in the Siberian wilderness: the Old Believers who time forgot
Feb 23, 2026
A tale of a family discovered deep in the Siberian taiga after decades of isolation. The origins and faith of Old Believers who fled religious reform are explored. Survival on wild plants, hunting skills and life ruled by strict beliefs are described. Encounters with journalists, charity, and modern attention reshape their world.
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Geologists Find A Family Lost In The Taiga
- A 1978 geological survey discovered the Likov family living 150 miles from the nearest settlement in the western Sayan Mountains.
- The geologists found patriarch Karp Likov and family members who had not seen outsiders for decades and refused bread or jam as 'not allowed.'
Isolation Is Theological For The Old Believers
- The Old Believers split from the Russian Orthodox Church over 17th-century liturgical changes, treating letters and rituals as sacred and resisting any innovation.
- Their theology linked holiness to isolation, making the forest a spiritual 'desert' where purity and hermit-like devotion could be preserved.
Flight Deeper Into The Altai To Avoid Persecution
- The Likov family repeatedly moved deeper into the Altai wilderness to avoid state pressure, trading pelts and fish via middlemen to stay independent.
- In 1932 the creation of the Altai Nature Reserve made their hunting illegal, forcing them to flee even further into the taiga.
