What duties did sacrificing priests perform among the Volga Finns and Permians?

Among the Volga Finns and Permians, sacrificing priests served as the leaders of annual rites, particularly within agricultural communities and cattle-breeding cultures. Their duties were characterized by a high degree of professional competence, as they were responsible for performing complex ceremonies and reciting long, skillful prayers.1

These religious specialists acted as ritual experts who maintained the relationship between the sacred and profane realms. Their work was often considered a routine affair compared to the ecstatic tasks of other cult authorities, such as seers or weeping women, yet their role was essential for the community's well-being and the proper execution of traditional rites.231