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Russian Old Belief: Traditions, History, and Culture. -Dimitry Urushev

From the Baptism of Rus Old Belief is, by definition, inseparably linked to history. Old Believers have always been distinguished by a profound historical memory. For them, not only recently glorified Russian saints but also the biblical patriarchs and prophets were real, living people, forming an integral part of the Orthodox world. In recounting the…

Justification of the Old Believer Church. -St. Arseny Uralsky

Introduction The Holy Church of Christ has many commandments for raising us from death to life, and all of them are obligatory for our fulfillment. Each one is but a step in that ascent which leads mortals to eternal life. And this life-giving ladder presents itself to every believer in as many steps as there…

In Defense of the Old Believer Hierarchy.

By Viktor Buzhinsky The title is deliberately borrowed from Fyodor Yefimovich Melnikov [1], as this topic remains relevant to this day, and the Old Believer hierarchy indeed needs to be defended. But, as strange as it may sound, it must primarily be defended from… the Old Believers themselves. This has been the case throughout the…

Old Belief and the Great Schism: An Experience of Sobornost under the “Kingdom of Caesar”

By George Neminuschy Foreword In this article, we shall attempt to uncover and articulate a direct link between the original attribute of Christ’s Church—its catholicity, or sobornost—and that which is referred to as communal life when speaking of Old Belief. We will not engage in an “apologia for Old Belief,” nor will we offer criticism…

A Word on Sobornost

By Archpriest Andrey Marchenko “And grant us with one mouth and one heart to glorify and hymn Thy most honorable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (from the rite of the Divine Liturgy). One of the most precious gifts bestowed upon the Church is sobornost—conciliarity or spiritual unity….

Nikifor Dmitrievich Zenin

A public figure and prominent leader of the Old Believer movement at the beginning of the 20th century, Nikifor Dmitrievich Zenin was a Russian photographer, documentarian, artist, and owner of a photography studio. He also distinguished himself as a reporter, writer, journalist, publicist, and apologist for Old Belief. The multifaceted nature of N.D. Zenin’s personality…

Who are the Old Believers?

Old Believers are Orthodox Christians who did not accept the reforms of the Russian Church implemented in the mid-17th century by Patriarch Nikon and Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov. Although the term “Old Ritualist” (старообрядцы) is part of the official name of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, it was adopted out of historical necessity and…

Debate Between Konovalov and Antipin: On the Reception of Heretics and On Division

UNDER CONSTRUCTION First Conversation. Subject of the conversation: “On Receiving from Heretics” and “On Division”. Antipin asked Konovalov: “How do you receive from the Nikonian heretics?” KONOVALOV: “We receive according to the Potrebnik, by the third rite, with a renunciation of the heresies.” ANTIPIN: “But in the Potrebnik, all the actions for receiving from heresies…