(3.) The Detouheitchins (^Infanticides). — This sect con- sider it a great misfortune for children to come nndcr the inrtuence of Antichrist (the established Cimrch), and believe it to be the best offering they can make to God
to deliver them from this calamity — by death, if neces- sary-. They do not hesitate, therefore, to commit the crime of infanticide.
(4.) The Beguiiy {Deserters), or Strannih-y {Wander- ers).— This sect originated about 1790, in the village of Sopel, district of Jaroslav, from which it is sometimes called Sopelniks. Its founder was Deserter Efimy, who, after having been rebaptized, settled in said village and taught that the Antichrist had ascended his throne long ago: first, one thousand years after Christ he invisibly reigned in the Greek empire under the Greek name of Appolt/en,* as intimated by John in the Revelation; then, after the lapse of 66(3 years, which letters compose his name, he appeared in Russia, not yet as czar, but as a false prophet, as stated in the Revelation by John. And this first beast and false prophet was the patriarch Nikon, for he was the first to blaspheme against God by changing the name of Isus into Jesus,^ and, like a beast, persecuted the worshippers of the true Isus; and that he really was the beast spoken of in the Apocalypse is seen from his real or lay name, Nikita, in Greek Njjic/j- Tioc,t which gives the number 066. After his fall, there ajipeared the third Anticlirist, or the second beast with the two horns, which signify the two imperial names, czar and imperator, the last of which, in Greek, is 'l7r£(0f(rop, § and also gives the number 666. In this trinity the members of the orthodox Church are bap- tized and marked with the sign of the cross by three fingers instead of by the two first, as it was of old. To escape eternal punishment, it is necessary-, first to wash off this sign and mark by rebaptism, and then flee from every city and village which forms part of this Babel of Antichrist.
(5.) The Ishraniki, or '• Company of the Elect." — The cause of the separation of this sect from the Russian Church was not any difference of doctrine or ritual, but a desire to protest against the laxit}' and inclination to change displayed by the clergy, and to adopt a greater piety and purity of life. They were termed by the or- thodox party Roscholshiki (Seditionists). Pinkerton {On Russian Sects) identifies them with the Starovertzi.
(6.) The Bezslovestni (the dumb), the name given to a not very numerous sect of the 18th century, whose members, after conversion, became perpetually speech- less. Very little is known of tlieir tenets.
(7.) The Istmiye Chrisliane. See Malakans.
(8.) The Knrabliki. See No. (18) below.
(9.) The Khlistie, or Flagellants.
(10.) The Malakans (q. v.).
(11.) The Martinists (q. v.).
(12.) The Moreshiki.
(13.) The Netovtshins (q. v.).
(14.) The Niconians (q. v.).
(15.) The Njetowschitchini. See Netovtshixs.
(16.) The Roscholshiki (q. v.).
(17.) The SahutniU (q. v.).
(18.) The Skoptzi (eunuchs), a name given to this sect because of their practice of self-mutilation, which they supposed to be warranted by Scripture (Matt, xix, 12). The general characteristics of this sect, even among those who do not adopt this extreme course of action, is one of self-mortification and asceticism. They perform self-imposed penances, such as flagellation, wearing hair- cloth shirts, and iron chains and crosses. They profess great respect for Peter HI, of whom they keep pictures in their houses, in which he is represented with a scar- let handkerchief tied round his right knee (which is supposed to be one of their Masonic signs). They ex- pect him to revisit the earth as the true Messiah, and, having rung the great bell of the Church of the Ascen-
* The word is rendered 'AttoAXi'ci', while it ought to be '\T!o\\vMv ; the first is equal to 66(5, the second to 1461.
t Before Nikon's time the two vowels in the word Jeshna were left out, so it rend Isus.
t The word is rendered NiiK>';Tiof, equal to 666; while it ouirht to be NiiK'jTaf, equal to 6S7.
5 The word is rendered 'iTrcpaTop, equal to 666; while it ought to be 'lyun-e^aTop, cqual to 706.
RUSSIAN VERSION
177
RUSSIAN VERSION
plzi.
sion in Moscow, to summon the elect, and reign over all the true Skoptzi. They are noted for their anxiety to procure converts, and he who gains twelve is digni- fied with the title of apostle. Their chief peculiarities of practice and doctrine are the rejection of the resur- rection of the body, a refusal to observe Sunday, and the substitution of certain rites invented by themselves in lieu of the sacrament of the eucharist. They are a numerous sect in some governments, as that of Orel, comprising whole villages, and they have many adher- ents among the jewellers and goldsmiths of St. Peters- burg, Moscow, and other large towns.
(19.) The Strujolniks. This sect arose in Novgorod at the close of the 14th or early in the 15th century. A .Jew named Horio, joined by two Christian priests, Denis and Alexie, and afterwards by an excommuni- cated deacon named Karp Strigolnik, preached a mixt- ure of Judaism and Christianity, and gained so manj' followers that a national council was called to suppress him. They regard the payment of monev by the cler- gy to the bishops on ordination as simoniacal, and con- fession to a priest as unscriptural. Strigolnik himself was thrown into the river and drowned during a riot in Novgorod, but the opposition of his followers to the Russian Church continued for many years after his death.