nemozone

The “ubogi” (literally “of God”), “iurodivye” (“God's fools” or “holy fools”), and “proroki” (“prophets”) were terms used in traditional Ukrainian and Russian cultures to refer to individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. [1][2][3][4]

These individuals were often integrated into their communities and were not socially isolated. They were associated with the Orthodox Church and were sometimes respected and revered, as they were believed to have special powers to predict the future and heal afflictions. [1][2][3][4]

The “ubogi” and “iurodivye” were often seen as “God's fools” or “holy fools” and were sometimes even local celebrities who were tolerated and cared for by their communities. They would often live in the basements and kitchens of the homes of wealthy merchants, who believed that donating to them would bring good luck in business. [1]

The “proroki” or “prophets” were individuals with disabilities, such as blindness, who were known for their abilities to predict the future and provide healing services. One famous example was Ivan Yakovlevich, who lived in squalid conditions in a hospital-asylum in Moscow but was visited by crowds of people, including nobility, who sought his services. [1]

In contrast, individuals thought to be mentally ill were sometimes treated with more fear and negative connotations, referred to as “duraki” or “fools” and “idiots”. The tsarist state also began to play a more active role in regulating the lives of people with disabilities, such as requiring those suspected of mental disabilities to appear before the Senate for certification. [1][3]

Citations: [1] https://dsq-sds.org/index.php/dsq/article/view/936/1111 [2] https://books.google.com/books?dq=%22ubogi%22+%22iurodivye%22+%22proroki%22&hl=en&id=pLYc4sTcFpIC&lpg=PA44&ots=BXywTHO5UU&pg=PA44&sa=X&sig=ACfU3U2-0lea2eLWdiWKyHNPfOR4lw5-og&ved=2ahUKEwi6scizmdyFAxVESfEDHcq8ACsQ6AF6BAgDEAE [3] https://a0s0.top/journal-article-offsetting-the-handicap-of-blindness-f8.html [4] https://epdf.tips/download/disability-and-mobile-citizenship-in-postsocialist-ukraine.html