The paper is devoted to the analysis of sacrifices of the peoples of the Volga region. These sacrifices symbolize the "initiation" of the select few (priests and benefactors) into an otherworldly sphere that it is possible to compare with absolution from sins. According to the theory of the French scientist Marcel Mauss the sacrifice falls into a category of "the sacred" along with magic and prayer, has the scheme, general and special functions. It is supposed on the ground of the existentialistic approach, the principle of historicism, comparative and historical, logical, retrospective, problemchronological and synchronous methods that sacrifices in the Volga region are similar to the system where a certain religious aura and obscure meanings are inherent in its each element. The material of the paper may be useful to anthropologists and historians, instructors and students of higher schools of the Humanities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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