The memory of Mari enlighteners will be perpetuated in Bashkiria

The Mari cultural society “MARI USHEM” in Sharansky region RB made the decision to celebrate the jubilee of their famous compatriots, being the pride of Mari nation. The matter is that the 145th anniversary of the well-known Mari enlightener Islamgarey Mindiarov will be marked in 2012.

In 1887 he had finished the teacher’s gymnasium in the town of Birsk and later worked at the schools of his native Birsky region. In 1898 he had entered the Ufa clerical gymnasium, adopted the Christianity and became the deacon Paul Seleznev and further worked as a teacher at the local school.

He was one of the first Mari, who managed to get a higher education. He worked at the school under the Kazan pedagogical seminary. He joined the missioner’s activity from the very beginning. He is considered one of the first Mari literary specialists and publicists. Between 1907 and 1914 he has issued seven methodical manuals for Mari schools and the periodical “Mari Calendar”.

In September 1907 Paul Seleznev was sent to Vyatka province as an eparchial missioner and he was working on this post during ten years. Since 1915 he worked as the editor-in chief of the newspaper “Military News”, published in Mari, Udmurt and Tatar languages and this newspaper was the first mass edition in Mari language. His young brother Leonid also devoted all his life to enlightenment of Mari nation.