As early as the beginning of the last century, Orthodox Latvians demonstrated their ability to resist Russification and played an active role in shaping and developing Latvian culture, education and national identity.

This is stated in a study by Juris Yefuni, a Master of Theology and lecturer at the Latvian Christian Academy, entitled “Orthodoxy and Latvian Identity: The Path to Statehood and a Local Church (1840s–1920s).”

The article examines the development of Orthodox Latvian identity from the 1840s to the 1920s. The author emphasises that the adoption of Orthodoxy in Latvia was a free and conscious choice.

“Whatever motives Latvian peasants may have had for converting to Orthodoxy, they freely made a conscious choice between the Lutheran and Orthodox denominations. Each of them could have remained a Lutheran and maintained better relations with their landlords. Moreover, those Latvians who converted to Orthodoxy themselves, rather than being born into Orthodox families, differed in this respect from Russians, who inherited their Orthodox faith and therefore belonged to the Church automatically, without any personal initiative,” Yefuni notes.

According to Yefuni, as early as the 19th century, many members of the Orthodox clergy were Latvian, church services and sermons were conducted in the Latvian language, and publishing and cultural activities rooted in the national tradition flourished under the auspices of the Orthodox Church.

“The Orthodox Church’s education system made a significant contribution to Latvian education and provided opportunities for social advancement to many future Latvian political and public figures. Orthodox Latvians demonstrated their ability to resist Russification and actively participated in shaping and developing Latvian culture, education and national identity. Orthodox Latvians also played an active role in establishing, developing and governing the independent state, as well as defending it on the battlefield,” the article states.