February 28, 7534
-by N.A. Prozorov. INTRODUCTION Before proceeding to the study of the history of Old Belief, it is necessary to say a few words about what Old Belief actually is. Having accepted the Christian Orthodox faith from the Greeks in 988 under Prince Vladimir the Saint, the Russians faithfully and inviolably preserved it until the 17th…
K. Kozhurin. (On the 350th anniversary of its beginning) In 1668, the siege of the principal holy shrine of the Russian North—the Solovetsky Monastery—began by tsarist troops. From the very start of Patriarch Nikon’s reforms, the monastery had become one of the chief strongholds of the old faith. “The Solovetsky Monastery was the fourth most…
-K. KOZHURIN, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences (Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia) As has already been noted by a number of researchers, the “zealots of piety” of the mid-17th century and their followers—the Old Believers—in their historiosophical views relied on written monuments of South- and West-Russian origin. Over time these texts acquired unconditional authority, and…
A word of Andrei Denisov, Pomorian coenobiarch “The righteous shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) Many and ineffable blessings are brought about by the virtues; for the sake of them, those who have acquired them are counted blessed with immortal glory. For every virtue truly embraced crowns its lover with inexpressible beauty and adorns him…
I. M. Kokunin Report delivered at the Second All-Russian Council of the Old-Orthodox Pomor Church (Moscow, 1912) “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (First Epistle General of John, ch. 1, v. 8) As is well known, the ancient Church did not cast sinners…
Report of L. F. Pichugin at the First All-Russian Council of Pomor Christians, 1909 ON THE ESSENCE OF THE CHURCH Conciliar Resolution QUESTION. Who established the Church? ANSWER. Christ the Savior Himself. QUESTION. Which words indicate the establishment of the Church? ANSWER. The righteous confession of the Apostle Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son…
May 10. Presided over by I. I. Zykov. Chairman. Honorable and devout assembly! In this session, the question of the mystery of Holy Communion will be discussed. Given the importance of the subject, I most humbly request that the public conduct itself as peacefully as possible and follow the discussion with all humility, silence, and…
The second part of a public debate between the Pomor, Kondratyev, and the Belokrinitsa representative, Varakin. (August 26) First Speech by D. S. Varakin At this present assembly, we shall consider the question of the eternity of the bloodless sacrifice in the Church of Christ. This is a most sublime mystery, a singular propitiatory sacrifice,…
Conversations of Old Believers of the Belokrinitskaya Hierarchy with Pomorian Old Believers in Moscow, 1913 (Stenographic Record) Moscow 1915 Preface At the initiative of the doctrinal commission of the Moscow Brotherhood of the Holy Cross of the Old Believers of the Belokrinitskaya Hierarchy, public conversations were held in Moscow in 1913 between the aforementioned Old…
In the wild, desolate Dauria, A voivode’s detachment marches on. In that troop, with a dignified stride, A great sufferer trudges along. His wife and young children Bear the exile with him. For his righteous preaching in the world, A cruel judgment has been passed. – Old Believer spiritual verse “Avvakum in Exile” In the…