Erzyan native religion

The Erzyan native religion (Erzya: эрзянь пазнэнь озноматe, romanized: erzań pazneń oznomate), also called Erzyan neopaganism, is the modern revival of the ethnic religion of the Erzya Mordvins, peoples of Volga Finnic ethnic stock dwelling in the republic of Mordovia within Russia, or in bordering lands of Russia. The name of the originating god according to the Erzya tradition is Ineshkipaz.

The Mordvins have been almost fully Christianised since the times of Kievan Rus'^{[obsolete source]}, although Pagan customs were preserved in the folklore and a few villages^{[clarification needed]} completely preserved the native faith at least until further missionary activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century and in the early 20th century.^[1] The Neopagan revival was started in 1990,^[2] alongside that of many other native religions in Russia, as the Soviet Union was on the brink of dissolution.

According to scholar Victor Schnirelmann, 2% of the Erzya adhere to the native faith and do not practice Christianity,.^[2] Adherents of the Erzyan Mastor organisation organise the Ras'ken' Ozks (lit. 'Native Prayer'), a national Erzyan worship service held yearly, with participation also of members of the Mastorava organisation and other ones.^[3][4][5]