Latvian Government Gives Neo-Pagan Faith Same Status and Rights as Other Religions in That Country

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Oct. 21 – The Latvian parliament voted earlier this month to give the followers of Dievturibe, a Lavian pagan faith that created an organized hierarchy in 1925 but suppressed in Soviet times and one that 20 percent of Latvians sympathize with, the same status and legal rights as traditional religions like Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

            This new status, which the followers of this neo-pagan faith have long sought,  means that Dievturibe leaders can conduct marriages which will have legal status, provide spiritual support in the military, hospitals and jails, and offer religious instruction in schools (mariuver.com/2025/10/21/dievturiba/#more-83971).

            Ugis Nastevics, head of the community’s administrative body, says that this action is “historic” because with the Seima’s vote, “Latvia has become the first country of the EU” to give the ancient and traditional faith of its population rights equal to religions like Christianity, Judaism and Islam.  

            For background on this group and its history over the last century, see Anita Stasulane’s detailed 2020 article on the World Religions and Spirituality Project page at hwrldrels.org/2020/04/22/dievturi/ and the extensive bibliography she provides and the website of the group itself at dievturi.lv/.