August 15, 7533
The medieval Russian concept was slightly different and more comprehensive in its original form. Its essence can be summarized as follows: the First Rome, the Orthodox kingdom, fell into heresy; the Second Rome (Constantinople) fell to the Turks; now the last Orthodox kingdom is Moscow, the “Third Rome.” If Moscow were to fall, there would…
–UNDER CONSTRUCTION– Introduction Three hundred years ago, Russia professed a single Christian, Orthodox faith and formed a single true Orthodox Church. At that time, there were no heresies, no schisms, no divisions within the Russian Church. For more than six centuries, beginning from the Baptism of Rus’ in 988, the Russian Church enjoyed inner peace…
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…
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…
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…
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…
By Nikifor Zenin On October 27 at 1:30 in the afternoon, Bishop Kir Mikhail, Old Believer Bishop of Canada, passed away in the hospital at the Rogozhskoye Cemetery. The ways of God are unsearchable. Something difficult to foresee — or even miraculous, though sorrowful — led Bishop Kir Mikhail to die in the chief center…
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…
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…
From a debate between A.A. Antipin and Pomor apologist V.A. Voykin God, be merciful unto me, a sinner. (Bow) O Lord, who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow) I have sinned without number, O Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me, a sinner. (Bow) It is worthy, for in truth to bless thee,…