5. Tchernoltzi, or Wjetkaern, an insignificant body who, during the time of the persecution (A.D. 1730),
Eight-ended Cross of the Kaskoluiks.
This cross is bv all the different Russian Raskolnilis considered the only ue Christian cross; while by them the luur-en.led one is considered an,l innovation made by the patriarch Nilion, and consequent
' from
tru
declared to be
Iv anti-Christian. , . , l t i^u
1. Represents the impression said to have been made by Jesus Chi upon a wet cloth, and bv Ananias sent to king Abgarus of Edeasa.
2. The letters in it stand for and sisrnify : a for ot nebo shedsli ^^ heaven descended ;" 0 for oni ego ne privjali, " they did not receive him ; H for na kretle rmpiali, " on the cross outstretched him.
3. The writing under it is in Old Slavic, and reads obras nerukotwannnti, signifying " image not made by hand."
4. Reads Angeli Goapodni, signifying " Angels of the Lord.
5. " Za'r slavi, " " l-ord of Glory." Ims CliriHot, " " Jesus Christ." Sin Boaliii, " "Son of God."
10.
' Mo
Ckrestu twoemu pokhnaemaa wladiko i awettoe uioskreaenie Iwoe
ilavim, signifying "To thine cross do we bow, Lord, and thy luminous resurrection do we glorify."
. Reads Knpie, signifying " Spear."
. " 7'msl, " " Hyssop."
. " JVo kreate iskupil kruwiu Adama, signifying On the cross re- deemed with blood of Adam."
. " Jffsro /oAnoe, signifying " Place of skull."
. " Baapiat Bog, " " Crucified God."
. " Gora Golgotha, " " Mount Golgotha."
. " Glova Adama, " " Head of Adam."
. The tree of which it is said that it was pointed out to Seth by the archangel Michael, in answer to his prayer for his father Adam (Gospel of Nicodemus, ch. xiv). Reads Swjalaia Maria Magdahna, signif. " St. Mary Magdalene."
r. •' Miter TheM, " " Mother of (io,!,"*
" Sii-jaloi Jvaiin Bogoalow, " " St. John the Theologian."
>'. " Swjatoi Login &/nic, " " St. Logan the Centurion."
* The three little stars signify the perpetual virginity.
RUSSIAN SECTS
174
RUSSIAN SECTS
A Popoftchiu Teacher.
took refuge on the islands of the Wjetka, a small river between Russia and Poland, whence their name. Here thej' formed a separate community and built two mon- asteries, from which, fifty years later, some of them mi- grated to Poland and built a church and convent at Tchernoboltz. Their chief distinguishing practices are a refusal to take oaths and to offer prayers for the emperor. II. The BKZPoroFTCniNS, as we have said, are dis- senters who refuse to have priests, the sacraments be- ing administered and services conducted by lay elders. They recognise no priestly hierarchy, and dislike the national bishops and priests so much that when anj'
A Popoftchiu Mouk in Travelling-dress.
one of these enters their houses they hasten, as soon as he leaves, to wash the seats and walls. They believe that the Church is in a period of decline and apostasy, that the apostolic succession has been interrupted, and that legitimate priests are now impossible. They hold that the world has had four teras : a spring, or morning, from Adam until the building of Solomon's Temple; a summer, or noon, lasting until the birth of Christ; an autumn, or evening, until the appearance of Antichrist, about 1650; and now the cold winter, the dark night, which will continue until the Lord shall descend upon earth to save men. The Bezpopoftchins are divided up into very many sects, some of them holding opinions exceedingly absurd. The three principal of these sects are the following :
A Popoftchiu Mouk at Home.
A Popoftchiu Nuu.
RUSSIAN SECTS
1T5
RUSSIAN SECTS
1. The Ponwryans. — The founder of this sect was a runaway deacon of tlie name of Danilo W'iculin. In the year 1695 he founded a monastery on the borders of the Viga, of which for forty years he was the prior, and died in 1735. In the erection of the monastery and ill its leadership he was assisted by Andrei JMislitezky, wlio was of princely origin, and occupied his post until his end, in 1730. Soon after this a monastery for fe- males was organized, of which .Salomonia, the sister of Mishtezky, became prioress. The monasteries soon amassed wealth, and were thereby enabled to procure a large library of old Slavic manuscripts, and composed books for the education of singers, writers, painters, and the future leaders of the sect. At the end of the past century these monasteries contained 2000 male and 1000 female inmates. Andrei and Siniion Denisow have written several works for the sect, and in general de- fence of the Raskolniks, of which the Pomoryan Answers to the Questions <)f Xerjif is the principal.
The teachings of the Pomoryans, also called Danil- owtchina, consist in the following: a. From the time of Nikon, the Antichrist has been reigning, though unseen, in the orthodox Church, and has abolished the true sac- raments and priesthood, b. Those from the t>rthodox Church who wish to join the Pomoryans must receive rebaptism, which, like other sacraments, can, in conse- quence of the fall of the true priesthood, be administer- ed by laymen, and even by females, c. As there is no true priesthood, tliere is no one to solemnize marriages, therefore all are obliged to live in the unmarried state, and those married in the Church must separate, d. Monks from the orthodox Church can be acknowledged as such after having been rebaptized, and thej' may in- stall others in that state and be permitted to serve as priests, even if they have not been such before, e. For those in authority no prayers are to be offered. During the reign of Anna Ivanova one of the Pomoryans re- ported tliis to the authorities; then, to avoid difficulties with the government, they introduced a prayer for the czar, which they have used ever since. J'. The crosses not to have the inscription "I. N. K. I.," because this is a Latin heresy, but to have the initial letters of these words: Zar Slavy Isus Christos Sin Boshii, "Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ, Son of (lod," as it had been to the time of Nikon, g. The food bought in the market is