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123 RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA Russia
but when, in 1738, some of them were willing, for political reasons, to include intercession for the czar and his family in their prayers, the majority proved recalcitrant, and the two sub-sects (both named from their founders) of " Philipists " and " Feodosians " were consequently formed, rd-using to have any fellowship with their former comrades. The most difficult problem for the Bezpopovahchina was that of marriage. Their quasi-monastic ideals proving impracticable, some renounced religious marriage, others rejected its indissolubility, and others still would not tolerate marriage at all, so that their level of morality proved inferior to that of the orthodox. The abolition of marriage could not be carried out; the novoshennye (" newly wedded ") were married by priests of the State Church and then did penance. From the Filipovtzi, toward the end of the eighteenth century, arose the " Pilgrims " (Stranniki) or " Fugitives " (Bye guny), who, in supposed conformity with Matt. x. 37-38, forsook their homes and families, rejected legal marriage and the certificate of naturalization with the seal of " Antichrist," and ate no food from the vessels of strangers. A sub-sect of the " Pilgrims " intentionally postponed their vow of wandering until toward the end of their lives, but occupied a less honored position. From the loss of a hierarchy others of the " priestless " Russian sectaries inferred that the sacraments and public worship were altogether abrogated, as by several divisions of the Netovtzi ("Deniers"). The" NonPrayers " respected only the prayer of the heart, and even regarded all prayer as an affront to the divine omniscience, and explained all Christian doctrine as allegorical; the Molchalniki (" Silent ") refused to speak, even under torture; others used raisins instead of wine in the Eucharist; and the tanets of others are still unknown.
Besides these sects there are a number of others which did not originate from the schism of 1667, which is called the raskol (" schism ") par excellence, whence its adherents are known as Raskolniks (" Schismatics "). Among them mention should first be made of certain mystics who are not sepa-
;. The Church, but frequently seem to be her IChlysty. most zealous members. These are the
" People of God," or Yhlysty (" Flagellants "), probably a corruption of Khristy (" Christs ") . According to their account, God descended in 1645 on Mount Gorodin in the government of Vladimir, and took up his abode in the peasant Daniel Philippov, who chose as his son, " Christ," the peasant Ivan Suslov, who in turn chose a "Mother of God" and twelve apostles. Suslov is said to have been twice crucified, to have risen and been manifested to his followers, and to have lived until 1716. Since that time the Khlysty have had many " Christs " (including Peter III.; see § 5). Each member of the sect is expected to endeavor to become a " Christ " or a " Mother of God " by mortification of the flesh and prayer. The " ships" in which the Khlysty gather are directed by a prophet or angel, aided by a prophetess, and the commands of these prophets are the law of their adherents. The twelve commands of Philippov are
also still in force, including abstinence from intoxicating liquors and all carnal indulgence. They hold that the essential baptism is that of the Spirit, and they celebrate the Eucharist with the triturated Easter prospher and the water blessed at the feast of the Epiphany. Dancing and singing form the principal parts of their religious exercises, the men in the center and the women on the outside circling round with frantic gestures (supposed to imitate the flying of the angels) until exhausted and even unconscious (cf. EcsTesr); while the incoherent phrases which they utter are taken to be prophecies. The secrecy attaching to the Khlysty enhances their prestige, but much of the scandal popularly ascribed to them seems apocryphal. The exact relation of the Skakuny (" Jumpers ") to the Khlysty is problematical.
An offshoot of the Khlysty is formed by the Skoptzi (" Self-Castrators "). They were founded by a certain Selivanov (whose real name is unknown), who, about 1770, declared himself to be Peter III. and a son of God. Banished to Siberia, he was permitted to return by Paul I.,
g. The but was confined as insane until re. SkoptzL leased by Alexander I. Be then en joyed quasi-divine honor in St. Peters burg, but in 1820 he was again placed in confinement in the monastery of Suzdal, where he died in 1832, a centenarian. In opposition to the licentiousness of some Khlysty, Selivanov laid all stress on Matt. xix. 12, xviu. 8-9, distinguishing between the " royal seal " and " second purity " (partial cas tration). Women usually have the breasts am putated. Many Skoptzi are " white doves " or " pure spirits " only after they have begotten chil dren, and others are nominally married. Selivanov is considered the perfect redeemer. The Skoptzi, who on principle deny that they belong to the sect, carry on an active propaganda, and all measures to suppress them have failed. Their number is esti mated at between two and three thousand, many of them emigrants to Rumania.Opposition to the ceremonial of the Orthodox Church is embodied in the Molokanf (" Milk Drinkers ") and Dukhobors (q.v.), who reject the sacraments and are officially designated as rationalistic sects. Scorning ceremonial, a special priesthood, and the veneration of icons, they maintain that the only worship of God is in spirit and that the heart of man is the sole true temple of God. Instead of baptism by water they demand the
6. The baptism of the Spirit, instead of con- Molokani. fession to a priest confession to each of the brethren, and instead of the Eucharist meditation on the words of Christ. The origin of the Molokani is obscure, nor are they offi cially mentioned until 1765. They claim that the Bible is their sole foundation, and though they ex plain it allegorically, they do not reject the his torical elements in the Gospel. They refuse to eat pork, but in general their doctrines are vague, so that much diversity of opinion prevails among them. Their congregations meet in private houses, each body having a presbyter and two assistants conspicuous for uprightness of life. Their devo tions consist of prayer, the singing of hymns and