What is the essence of the faith of the Old Believers. Old Believers: who are they, what do they preach, where do they live? Old Believers and Old Believers - what's the difference. From the baptism of Russia
Discuss
Many people ask the question: "Old Believers and Old Believers - what is the difference in terminology and is there any at all?" The history of the emergence of these unusual groups of people is directly related to one famous person. His name is Nikon, and it was this man who was destined to lead the Russian Orthodox Church and become a lever that led to the formation of a strange, original culture of the Old Believers.
Man as a split theory
The future patriarch was born into a poor peasant family in May 1605 in the village of Veldemanovo near Nizhny Novgorod. The boy's mother died immediately after his birth, and his father married a second time. The stepmother did not like the child. She starved him and bullied him in every possible way.
There is evidence that the woman repeatedly tried to deprive the named son of life. But every time Nikita (Nikon received such a name at birth) was saved by a happy accident. Later, memories of amazing, fantastic situations where he overcame death gave him confidence in his divine mission.
It was great ambitions that led to the formation of such a trend as the Old Believers. Who they are and what role the patriarch plays in their formation, the material will tell further.
She often stood up for her grandson and grandmother. Since childhood, the boy was supportive of religious literature. A priest who taught literacy was an ideal for a child. Sometimes Nikita could not sleep. He was constantly disturbed by nightmares that he might forget church texts. A pious boy ran away without the permission of his parents to a monastery.
In 1624, under the pretext of the death of his beloved grandmother, the young man was returned home. There he was married to a stranger. Nevertheless, the man did not leave religion. The young husband got a job as a priest in a local church. Then he did not even know that the Old Russian Church of the Old Believers, in which Nikon began to rule, would later hate him.
His erudition, deep faith and extreme diligence made him a good reputation. Merchants who came to the city noticed the talents of the young priest and offered him to move to work in Moscow.
First steps towards tragedy
The death of all his children was a heavy blow. Nevertheless, in this event he saw a divine symbol. Nikon sent his wife to a monastery and dedicated his life to serving the Almighty.
Very quickly he achieved success and soon entered the highest circles of the clergy. Then the idea arose to refresh the church and improve the morality of the people. The ideas that originated during this period later led to a movement that was dubbed the "Old Believers". Who they were, until the XVII did not know. This word appeared after Nikon's accession to the patriarchal throne in 1652.
As soon as he mastered the new title, the reforms did not slow down. Throughout the Christian history of the Russian lands, the clergy kept a reference point to the Byzantine Church. In the mid-1600s, the canons of Russian Orthodoxy were very different from the Greek ones. This led to different methods of conducting ceremonies and customs in rituals. Nikon tried in every possible way to correct the differences.
At first, the traditions of Russian and Byzantine churches were identical, but after a certain period of time, the rites of the latter changed. Most of the features were acquired after the fall of Constantinople.
The conditions for changing customs in the Russian lands were harsh. Books with ingrained rituals were publicly burned, and those who adhered to the old laws were called heretics.
Consequences of the mission of life
Now historians firmly state that if the patriarch introduced changes gradually, then there would be no such thing as the Old Believers. Who they are and what their principles are, humanity today would not know.
The patriarch's church reform of 1650-1660 was aimed at introducing new and destroying old canons. This was the reason for the emergence of supporters of Nikon. On the other side were adherents of his enemy - Habakkuk. The latter believed that the records in Russian books reflect Orthodoxy better, and the Greek works were incorrectly changed by time.
Regarding the fate of the man who split the Russian Church, it was disappointing. For a long time, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich respected the patriarch. But due to the aggressive mood towards Nikon of a large group of clergy, their relationship cooled.
In 1666 he was demoted and sent to prison in a monastery. This was partly at the initiative of the sovereign. It is worth noting here that although this person lost his respect, the church of the Old Believers did not support, and the laws that the priest so vehemently defended were adopted at the official level.
The former patriarch spent 15 years in exile. Before his death, Alexei Mikhailovich asked the priest for forgiveness. The king's son, Theodore, also felt affection for the priest. He allowed him to return from exile. But on the way the old man died. Despite significant protests from the new head of the church, Nikon the reformer was buried as a patriarch. He was buried in the Cathedral of the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery. Fyodor Alekseevich himself read the Apostle over it with tears in his eyes.
Road 700 years long
Since the time of Kievan Rus, the Old Believers have been leading their history. "Who are they?" is a question that requires deep analysis.
The theory of their religion was born immediately after the adoption of Christianity by Prince Vladimir. Then the ruler took the Orthodoxy of the Greeks as a basis. Since 988, the inhabitants of the great power began to live according to new laws, which in many respects contradicted paganism.
In the course of historical events, since 1439, the Russian Church fell out of the power of Constantinople and began to develop independently. This happened until Nikon came to the patriarchal throne, who in 1653 again headed for the Greek canons. Of course, the drastic changes in the rules aroused considerable resistance from the masses, who considered the innovations unacceptable and unlawful. There was a public condemnation of all those who ignored Greek laws and continued to adhere to the rites of their ancestors, which were known since the time of Prince Vladimir. The manner of prayer, the exclamation of "Hallelujah", the number of prosphora and the cross of the Old Believers were changed.
The biggest blow for them was the adoption of innovations officially. For some time the country was on the verge of a religious war. Repressions began and the pursuit of all those who were against the novelties of the church. From now on, those who disagree were not just called heretics, excommunicated from the holy trinity and cursed, but also physically exterminated. Moreover, all this was done at the national level and with the assistance of the tsarist authorities.
Religious community as a political threat
During the reign of Peter the Great, a double tax was imposed on the Old Believers. In 1722, a decree was issued on the death penalty for those who would contribute to the split of the church, that is, continue to pray according to the old traditions.
Already by that time, some of the representatives began to hide. Many families have left the places where their ancestors lived and worked for centuries. They went to distant, wild lands deep into Russia. Thousands of people left the empire and sought their fortune abroad.
During the reign of Catherine II, a policy of religious tolerance was promoted. It was then that the terminology "Old Believers" and "Old Believers" arose. What is the difference between these two concepts?
Nothing, they are absolutely identical. The first meaning arose as a word that characterized people who remained true to their religious preferences. All those who did not obey the innovations bore the insulting name of schismatics, heretics and Old Believers. The synonym "Old Believers" was introduced by Catherine II. The queen introduced fresh reforms in the religious sphere of her country. Thus, the persecution of these groups ceased for some time.
Whole families were returning from abroad. But these changes did not last long. Despite the fact that the representatives of this trend were socially active and, thanks to their hard work, brought profit to the state, they also posed a great threat to the tsarist regime.
In the rhythm of time
The Orthodox Old Believers were perceived by the authorities as a political movement that played the role of opposition for the imperial court. And indeed, as soon as Catherine II gave them official permission to build churches, this current founded and arranged its own city in a short period of time. Today it is located on the territory of Belarus. In the 18th century, there were about 5,000 Old Believers there.
Some of these people were killed by order of the queen. All who remained alive were forcibly relocated to the east of Russia. Their descendants still live there. Today they are known as Semeyskie.
It should be noted that other religious minorities, from Protestants to Buddhists, received state support.
According to official sources, in the 19th century, a third of the population of the Russian Empire still lived according to the rules of their ancestors, who were baptized in Kievan Rus.
Later, the authorities began to treat this trend more loyally. Increasingly, the question arose: "Old Believers - who are they?" Their customs and canons were not considered as those that could damage the integrity of the state. But they were forbidden to build temples, print books, spread the teachings, and even hold high positions. Even marriage for couples was illegal.
In the early 1900s, the rights of this denomination were equated with other religious minorities.
Canons - the foundation for disagreements
Before the advent of Nikon, the Russian people for almost 700 years lived according to the rules that were formed during the time of the baptism of Russia. The patriarch also introduced a reform, the result of which was a split in religion into two strong directions. The first trend was supporters of innovation. Other dissenters were left out of society, because they did not perceive the proposed theories. So who are the Old Believers, what is the difference between this part of the people and the other?
The first and main difference is the translation and editing of scriptures. The process went down in history under the name "book business". The Symbol of Faith, where the fundamental tenets of religion are indicated, was also subject to changes. Several important words have been removed or replaced from the text. For example, the Holy Spirit was now used without the characteristic "true", and in the lines that talked about the future, the phrase "there is no end" was replaced by "there will be no end."
In addition, liturgical literature acquired a different form. Nikon wrote the Russian word "Jesus" in the new style "Jesus".
Remained in the past and the cross of the Old Believers. The prayer gesture used to be performed with the help of two fingers (a special addition of the fingers of the right hand), and after the reform, the church switched to three fingers. Admirers of ancient Orthodoxy claimed that two fingers are a cross, which symbolizes the divine and human principles. And three folded fingers (three fingers) is a sign of the Trinity, which has nothing to do with the crucifix.
Bows were made differently. From now on, walks around the church were made against the sun. Hallelujah was sung three times instead of twice. The number of prosphora has changed.
The culture of antiquity in the present
The Old Believers preserved the traditions of their ancestors. You can see them to this day. In addition to the above canons, they are guided by other laws. The process of baptism occurs only through a full three-time immersion. These people do not recognize four-pointed crucifixes, but such a cross (without Jesus) is present in their homes.
The icons of the Old Believers are still decorated in the style that was adopted and approved by the clergy 1000 years ago. The service is based on books that were published in the period before Nikon's reforms.
These communities lead a modest lifestyle. They have little fun and are very pious. But their religious holidays are no less cheerful and colorful than in other religions. The family charter is patriarchal. A woman obeys the orders of her husband and relatives on his part (even those who are younger than herself). Since often a small village consists of one family, the guys had to look for girls for themselves, in fact, far away. They travel thousands of miles to another community to woo and get married.
Morality in the theory of life
All this knowledge was constantly carried with them by the Old Believers, the Old Believers. Who they were, the features of their faith, the essence of their principles, Catherine II understood. It was on the initiative of the queen that these people left the cultivated lands and went with their families in an unknown direction to the edge of Russia. There they began a new life, albeit difficult, but free and safe.
Their characteristic feature is boundless love for work and God. They are guided by such rules in life. According to their theory, the Almighty created a person similar to himself, therefore it is considered a great sin to change something in your appearance. Haircuts and shaving are not practiced.
The prayers of the Old Believers occupy a special place in life. It is imperative to talk with the Lord in the morning and in the evening. If at the beginning of the day it is difficult to allocate time, then you can pronounce the holy words in a minute free from work during the light part of the day.
The clothing of this community is also unique. Festive dress in church. Men wear caftans, young ladies - sundresses and scarves. Hats for a married woman are obligatory, since open hair and a naked body are considered a great obscenity.
Girls learned the art of tailoring from childhood. Usually, before marriage, they did not do heavy domestic work, but only watched. From childhood, boys were taught to work in the field and to manage.
Through the ages
Today, science is particularly interested in the phenomenon called "Old Believers". Who are they? The photo in the material shows communities from different parts of the world, but all of them are united by deep family values.
These people lead a closed life, rarely give interviews and believe that being on camera is an unkind thing. They believe that photographs take away the divine energy that is stored in the human body. But without someone else's, unusual equipment, they are good-natured, friendly and pleasant.
Many families still live without electricity, the Internet, they are not interested in the crisis and defaults. Previously, the Old Believers did not use money, did not buy clothes, food, medicines, and did not even eat overseas potatoes. They do not visit hospitals, very rarely enjoy the benefits of civilization.
The community lives by its own rules. The first to sit at the table is the father of the family. Everyone is praying. They all leave the kitchen together. A man should not see how food is being prepared, so the door to the room where it is made is hung with a cloth.
Unnecessary to either the church or the state, they managed to preserve their originality and spirituality, which the first Christians of Kievan Rus inherited from them. These are people who did not know such vices as alcohol, tobacco and entertainment. But they cherished the science of antiquity. The secret of the past lurks in their souls.
The Old Believers are a collection of certain religious movements that formed as a result of the Schism of the Russian Orthodox Church, which occurred in 1650-1660. The reason was the reform carried out by Patriarch Nikon and Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. In Russia, then the goal was set - to unify the conduct of rituals with the Greek tradition. Also, certain changes were organized in relation to the existing ranks, a foundation was created for state intervention in church affairs. Since some of the believers refused to accept the new rules, declaring only the old faith to be true, it soon became known as the "Old Believers". This term in itself indicates the importance of customs and traditions in the resulting conflict.
It should be noted that the movement of the Old Believers soon began to split. In particular, the existence of several directions is officially recognized - bezpopovskaya (its representatives are also known as "bezpopovtsy", but this is an erroneous spelling) and, in fact, priestly. The differences between them lie in the absence or presence of the priesthood. Thus, the former believe that after Nikon's reform, "real ordination" was not carried out. Consequently, temples, most of the rites and sacraments are not recognized by them. There is a small organization in Poland. The second group is more represented in Russia, it has an internal structure.
There is also the concept of co-religionists. They have preserved prayers and culture in general, recognized as Old Believers, but at the same time they are subject to the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. Many of those who did not accept Nikon's reform considered them traitors. Breakaways.
It is worth noting that despite the fact that the Schism itself is already a matter of history, there is still often confusion with the concepts. In short, the Old Believers began to be called those who did not accept the reform, chronologically earlier. And the very term "Old Believers" was decided diplomatically (for her time) by Catherine II. She condemned the actions of Patriarch Nikon, blaming him for what happened. In addition, the empress believed that this part of the believers would be useful in the development of certain lands. As a result, she stopped the persecution of the Old Believers and even provided them with some benefits, however, on the condition of living in sparsely populated and remote territories.
Finally, this term was fixed by Nicholas II, who decided to grant freedom of religion. In his opinion, the persecution of runaway Old Believers in Russia had to be ended. It is worth noting that the Old Believers themselves did not accept such a definition for a long time. They considered themselves "true Orthodox", and those who accepted the reform - Nikonians. So the above concepts may practically not differ, it all depends on who exactly and what has invested in them. However, the question of terminology itself periodically becomes fundamental. Especially considering the fact that today few of the uninitiated understand such moments.
What is the difference between the Old Believers and the Orthodox?
There is a certain difference, which has only intensified since the reform, because development has been going in different directions. So, the most famous is the use of two fingers (two-fingered version) with the sign of the cross, and not three. In addition, the icons of the Old Believers are still made according to strict canons that existed even before Nikon. And if you carefully listen to the text of the prayer, you can find out that the word “Jesus” is pronounced here, speaking of the Savior, and not “Jesus”. The addition of a letter was done to make the pronunciation closer to the Greek version.
The cross is also different. Among the Old Believers, it is exclusively eight-pointed, among the Orthodox it can be both four- and six-pointed. The writing on the back is also different. In addition, the Old Believers preserved the custom of wearing pectoral crosses exclusively without the image of the Son of God on it. The Orthodox go in procession against the sun, and the Old Believers follow the sun. However, the Bespopovtsy Old Believers generally abandoned this, as well as most of everything connected with temples.
There is a certain difference between how many beads should be on the rosary. The Orthodox have 33, those who adhere to the old faith have 109. The form has also changed, not just the quantity. Even the Orthodox beat bows from the waist, the Old Believers - earthly ones. Its specificity is also present in the way Baptism is carried out. For breakaways, it implies complete immersion. The Old Believers in the Urals also adhered to this, even in the cold season. The prayers have undergone fewer changes, not only with regard to the name of the Son of God, but also in the text.
household features
There is also a specificity in relation to everyday life. Men don't shave, they grow beards. Women do not cut their hair, they do hairstyles for long hair, mostly these are different braids. Be sure to learn prayers with children, often by heart. In general, much attention is paid to the religious side of education. They try to preserve what is left of grandfathers and great-grandfathers: family histories, legends, albums, in a word, memory. Such things are considered very important, especially since these people are used to living on suitcases, because the persecution could begin at almost any time. Very often I had to literally drop everything and move to another place in order to start all over again there.
But this approach made me value the community and family ties very strongly. Within the team itself, it is hard to imagine that someone could take it and just leave. We are talking about our own closed universe. Which often helps to cope even with the most difficult tasks: the Old Believers are known for their amazing adaptability and ability to establish a good life where not everyone can even survive.
worship
Prayers of all are collected in a special house, where those who come actively participate in the process. Since the majority is quite well versed in religious matters, it is not necessary to enlighten what and how to do. The Old Believers themselves consider this order to be their dignity: now even the patriarch does not tell them, they themselves will figure it out. It is believed that the responsibility is taken by the people (a particular community, for example). What frankly pleases many: there is no feeling of constant control.
And one more thing: if someone is sick, overworked, very busy, then no one bothers to pray at home. They will not check, because the relationship with God is considered sacred. But if the deceit is revealed, then such a person risks losing the trust of the community.
Seniors are held in high esteem, both in terms of age and kinship within the family. Departure from such a rule meant not only the strictest ecclesiastical condemnation, but also social impact. Moral issues are resolved very strictly, no premarital intimate liberties even between the engaged. Although here already much depends on what kind of direction we are talking about. If we are talking about the non-priests, then they did not have marriage itself (among certain groups) as such. Others decided to recognize as the conclusion of an alliance the actions performed by civilians, that is, the registry office in the present. As you can see, there is no single point of view on this issue.
An interesting moment with clothes: if the women's one was saved, then everything is difficult with the men's. Most often we are talking about something rather conditional, more stylized than really old. It is very difficult to recreate what was worn almost 4 centuries ago. But you can see a general trend: wide shirts, huge scarves for women, behind which it is difficult to accurately determine even height, not to mention hair color.
Headdresses are often decorated with feathers of wild birds. Quite often, amber was used, all kinds of beaded jewelry, including complex multi-piece ones. The belt occupied a special role in the decoration: it not only supports clothes, but is also able to serve as a talisman. The old hats have also been preserved. It is worth noting that the Russian Empire had a hand in such conservatism. So, Peter I pointed out that this category of the population does not need to abandon the old fashion. Men had to wear a zipun, this became a hallmark that helped even in the crowd to detect an Old Believer. So the authorities fought against tax evasion, because the breakaways, according to the law, had to pay more than anyone else.
It should be noted that the reforms aimed at planting everything Western, by order of Peter I, did not affect the Old Believers. Nobody forced them to shave their beards and (or) wear the same clothes. And since after the death of the emperor, the era of palace coups began, they were safely forgotten for some time, right up to Catherine the Great. But even she did not interfere in everyday life, so that her own society, closed in many respects, was formed more and more, separated from everyone else, living by its own rules.
Critics point out that the daily life of the Old Believers is characterized by a strong, almost petty regulation of every little thing. A lot of things need to be done only in a certain way, innovation is not highly valued here. In general, Old Believers are inherently conservative. But certain trends of the new time still reach here.
Old Believers and Old Believers: the history of occurrence
Old Believer noblewoman Morozova
In the autumn of 1884, the artist Vasily Surikov began to paint a picture that he had been thinking about for a long time. For several years he painted studies and sketches in pencil, watercolor and even oil. And in 1887 he exhibited it at the fifteenth traveling art exhibition. She took the audience back to the distant 17th century. As the author himself said, he portrayed the shame of following the boyar Feodosia Prokopyevna Morozova for interrogation in the Kremlin for her adherence to a split in the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich. But not only the image of Morozova with its tragedy captivates the audience of this picture. The picture contains the dramatic history of the entire Russian people, all strata of society, the drama of different generations and destinies. With this, she went beyond the framework of a personal tragedy, describing the tragedy of a whole century.
Feodosia Sokovnina was preparing for the wedding. She married the boyar Gleb Morozov, whose brother was the tutor of the king. Entering the Morozov family, Feodosia became one of the richest and most noble noblewomen of Moscow. On that sunny day, it seemed nothing could overshadow her happiness. Feodosia did not know that she would soon give birth to a son, and after a while she would remain a widow and heiress to the huge fortune of the Morozov brothers. She did not know that Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich would summon her, the richest and most noble noblewoman of Moscow, for interrogation. That she, the queen's friend, will be tortured on the rack. It is to him, the sovereign, she will threaten, raising her hand to the sky with folded two fingers. She did not know that she, along with her sister and closest friend, would be put in a damp dungeon, where they subsequently died of starvation. And the reason for all this will be a schism that cut in two not only the church, but the whole of Russia.
To eradicate the Old Believers: the policy of Tsar Romanov A.M., which led to a split in religion and society
Having ascended the throne at the age of 16, Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov knew what goal he was going for. The purpose of this was to create an Orthodox empire such as Byzantium. Since the Russian state developed quite successfully and even managed to unite with itself the entire territory now called the state of Ukraine, the tsar had an ambitious idea to be the restorer of the universal Orthodox state. He dreamed of freeing the lands of the Balkans, Constantinople, Greece and becoming the new emperor. The Greek bishops and metropolitans had favor with Tsar Alexei and were frequent guests in his receiving chambers. They warmed up his feelings to unite and spread their Orthodox faith.
Reform was needed to change the principles of the already established faith of his people. With the help of this reform, the texts of all sacred books used by Russian clergy were to be changed. Consequently, the ongoing ceremonies with rituals also affected the change.
Tsar Romanov A.M. for religious reform he finds a Russian clergyman who gravitates towards the Greek system of Christianity. It was the Metropolitan of Novgorod named Nikon. He said that he himself was Russian, but gravitated towards the Greek system of religion.
Even at the beginning of the reign of Alexei Romanov, the tsar's confessor Stefan Vonifatiev created a circle of "zealots of piety" under the sovereign. Its purpose was to strengthen the role of the Orthodox faith, raise the authority of the church and fight against Catholicism and Protestantism. The circle included the most active ascetics, such as Metropolitan Nikon of Novgorod, Archpriest Avvakum, rector of the Kazan Cathedral Ivan Neronov and others. All of them were supporters of the presentation of Russia as a third Rome. All of them emphasized that Russia is a God-chosen state, the only one in the world that has preserved true spiritual knowledge and faith. The confessors wanted to create an ideal Orthodox kingdom. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov was to become an example of life according to Christ. Therefore, the image of the Christian king was created - a strict zealot of the faith, whose life is completely subordinate to church rules and regulations. But the king was dominated by the universal idea of empire, and Nikon strongly supported this idea.
The new patriarch against the Old Believers
In 1652, with the active assistance of Alexei Mikhailovich, Nikon became the patriarch of the Russian Church. Bearing in mind the order of the king, the new patriarch immediately began a church reform. His first innovation was a demand sent to all parishes, which spoke of the replacement of prostrations with bows and baptism with three fingers instead of two. This immediately sparked protest. First of all, his associates in the circle of piety protested. This reform was perceived by many clergymen and ordinary people by the laity as a change of faith. Many saw this as a threat to the salvation of their souls. The idea became popular among the people, saying that Nikon became a servant of the Antichrist, or that he is the Antichrist.
The imperious patriarch Nikon, in turn, began to persecute people who were objectionable to him, which were his former associates in the circle and other priests who opposed religious reform. Zealots of the faith, such as Archpriest Ivan Neronov, noblewoman Morozova, deacon Fyodor Ivanov, publicly declared that the time had come, the fierce, the kingdom of the Antichrist. Archpriests Avvakum and Daniel wrote a letter to the tsar, where they denounced the heresy of Patriarch Nikon. Having learned about this, the patriarch ordered to seize the priests disobedient to his will. They were taken into custody. Daniel was cut and exiled to Astrakhan. Avvakum was kept in prison for ten months and then exiled to Siberia with his family. On the way, the archpriest was treated cruelly: they beat him with a whip and threw him into the cold snow. He was stripped of his spiritual title and cursed. In turn, Avvakum cursed Patriarch Nikon. Thus began a long religious schism that has not ended to this day.
It is difficult for modern people to imagine how one can torture and execute, burn people and set themselves on fire because of such issues as baptism with two or three fingers. What actually happened? What caused such a violent reaction in Russian church society?
The church schism was a global catastrophe. The change concerned not only ceremonies, since two main questions were hidden behind this:
Is Russia really the bearer of the true faith? Can the higher ranks of the clergy change the scriptures with their own hands, making significant changes to them?
However, the schism affected not only the church. Everyone who was dissatisfied or offended by the authorities, from the boyars to the very bottom of the peasants and serfs, went into a split in order to express their protest. All the troubles and executions after the suppressed uprisings, the resettlement of villagers in newly built cities, the enslavement of peasants, the plague of 1954 - all this was attributed to the violation of old church customs. Indeed, many innovations have been introduced to regulate man in the church.
Some of the innovations:
- Priests were ordered to take one ruble for a wedding, two rubles for a remarriage, and three rubles for a third, even if one of the former spouses died of natural causes.
- Previously, among the peasants, the wedding did not always provide for the obligatory entry into marriage. The rite was performed when they considered it convenient for themselves. Now it was condemned by the church as adultery.
- A girl or widow who gave birth to a child out of wedlock had to go to a monastery, and the perpetrator (the child's father) of the deed had to pay a fine of three rubles to the metropolitan's treasury.
- In the early 1680s, church attendance was required from the age of twelve. Also, a person had to observe fasts and confess. The same people who did not come to confession were marked in a special notebook and were considered schismatics.
Persecution and persecution Annie of the Old Believers (Old Believers)
In the years 1670-1680, the persecution regime intensified. Raskolnikov was ordered to be bound and brought to court. They were allowed to be tortured. After three warnings, they were burned and their ashes scattered to the wind. According to this principle, many Old Believers were burned: they drove men, women, children and the elderly into one hut and set it on fire.
Those people who were ready to repent were exiled to a monastery and kept there on bread and water for the rest of their lives. For concealing information about the Old Believers, scourging and exile to distant cities of Siberia were supposed. This also applied to priests.
With such measures, the government decided to frighten the population into obedience, but the result was the opposite. Archpriest Avvakum urged the Old Believers to accept death by fire, rather than accept a new faith. He assured that if they perished for the sake of their faith, they would turn into holy martyrs and enter the Kingdom of God.
Throughout Russia, burning huts were burning - this is how the Old Believers were burned alive. This inquisition was supported by the Tsar of Russia. Some Old Believers, seeing that they were already being followed, set fire to their own hut and died for their faith. This went on for more than a decade. The best part of the clergy who adhered to the Old Believers went to the schism group. Some burned themselves, some were burned by the government. In the 17th century, about 20,000 families, in protest of the new faith, burned themselves in their hut. Many Old Believers, having left their homes, went to live in the forest.
The roots of the schism of the seventeenth century must be sought in those changes in church life and Russian society that took place in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, with the arrival in Moscow of the Greek princess Sophia or Zoya Paleolog. Having become the wife of the Grand Duke Ivan III and being the heiress of the Byzantine emperors, Sophia instilled Byzantine or Greek rules in the Russian church. Together with her, a large retinue of unemployed Greek priests and monks came to Russia, who had lost their parishes in the occupied lands of Byzantium. Here in Russia they received high positions. The Russian Church became more and more Greek. The current Orthodox Church has completely adopted the Greek rules of rituals. All the rituals performed in our time just come from Greek Orthodoxy (liturgy, memorial service, prayer services).
When the church unrest of the 15th-16th centuries subsided and the unrest of the Old Believers and Old Believers were suppressed, the authorities of Moscow declared that Russia had now become the Third Rome. But there was another significant reason, thanks to which the concept of "Moscow - the Third Rome" was rapidly gaining momentum. It was a false understanding of the nearness of the end of the world by church hierarchs.
At one time, Archbishop Gennady Gonzov, who was engaged in the suppression of icon-thinking Old Believers in Novgorod, seriously believed that since the Greek church calendar Pascal ends in 1492, then this year will be the last in history. This calendar led the chronology from the creation of the world, and it was in this year that 6,000 years ended, after which, as they believed then, the second coming of Christ would come. Many priests did not agree with the archbishop's point of view. they, on the basis of the sacred writings, proved to him that it was not given to any of the people to know the time of the second coming of Christ. But Archbishop Gennady fanatically defended his opinion and was ready, with the permission of the authorities, to persecute priests who disobeyed him.
When the end of the world did not happen at the appointed time, another admirer of Greek church culture under the name of Joseph Volotsky came to the rescue of the erring priests. He interpreted the year 1492 as the beginning of a thousand-year reign on earth. He believed that a favorable kingdom would come when all enemies were defeated. Namely, he meant that all the peoples of the earth had to submit to Russia.
[A very strange statement for a clergyman who, in theory, should not interfere in politics with ideas that are not based on scriptures. Most likely, this priest acted out of his own selfish motives for the sake of profit and glory. A true clergyman must speak only the truth, guided by the sacred scriptures, and must not conform to the government even in the face of the threat of reprisal. The Old Believers and Old Believers died for their faith in the Lord God and did not change their minds, adjusting to the stupid intentions of the country's government.]
Old Believers and Old Believers: education, life, work, prayer
The Old Believers say this: "We adhere to Christianity adopted in Russia in 988 (the baptism of Russia). The beneficent influence of the Christian church on society and government lasted for many centuries. But in the end, incompetent rulers came to power who wanted to reduce the influence of true knowledge on society and subjugate the management of the church.For these purposes, the government nominated the necessary priests to the post of patriarch, who established new rules and customs.After that, persecution for the faith began, mass exiles to Siberia, imprisonment and torture, mass executions, forced coercion church attendance for all the people."
For true Old Believers, it is impossible to use the technical progress of modern civilization, it is considered a sin to watch TV, listen to the radio, use electricity, use cars, tractors and other equipment. They are also not allowed to get a passport, as they say that there is a devil's seal. All married women are required to cover their heads and hair with a scarf, men must wear long beards. Old Believers usually have many children: six to ten children is quite normal for Old Believer families. They do not send their children to a modern school, but teach them to read and write at home. Usually they give knowledge of elementary grades: reading, spelling, elementary mathematics. This is quite enough for life in the settlement and the community. All children in the family from an early age help their parents with the housework and learn certain crafts. As soon as the children reach puberty, they are trying to marry or marry.
The Old Believers have their own education system, in which more prayers are memorized, reading, arithmetic and Znamenny singing are taught. They have several books that they use to teach: the ABC, the Psalter, and the Book of Hours. Children who are drawn to spiritual knowledge are taught Slavic writing and icon painting.
The Old Believers themselves try to live apart as much as possible. They lead a sedentary lifestyle. They are mainly engaged in agriculture: they plow the land, plant crops, vegetables and some fruits. In the summer, they often collect all kinds of berries, nuts and mushrooms. Old Believers keep different types of animals: chickens, goats, rams, cows, horses. According to their faith, it is allowed to use the flesh of slaughtered animals for food.
Old Believers try to observe all fasts, pray before meals, and hold joint prayers. They cook their food on fire and in ovens. For guests who are not related to the Old Believer tradition, they give food in dishes specially reserved for guests. They do not like to be filmed, they try to hide their face. They claim that it is a sin for them and then they have to make a thousand prostrations to the earth in order to atone for this sin. The Old Believers are not allowed inside their temple, they say that unbelievers are forbidden to enter. Well, accordingly, they also do not allow shooting inside the temple. Some of the Old Believers are more willing to make contact and allow themselves to be filmed on camera, tell how everything is arranged for them, invite them home and feed them food. And the older generation is not in the mood to associate with unbelievers.
They mainly buy clothes, dishes for the kitchen, and many other tools in the store, since there are practically no craftsmen involved in the production of these things among the small settlements of the Old Believers. They cut and sew clothes for going to church themselves, though from fabric bought in a store. The car and tractors are replaced by horses. Among the Old Believers, a child already knows how to ride a horse from an early age. A horse is always needed in the village: to plow the land, and take dried hay from the field, and bring firewood from the forest in a cart, and go to a distant place.
Particularly closed Old Believers do not have a passport of a citizen of the country. They do not receive any pensions or benefits. All hope is only in their own strength and in the Lord God. Since all Old Believers are family people and have many children, they do not need to worry in old age: about receiving a pension, about their illnesses and other hardships. Children will always help their elderly parents.
Basically, the Old Believers are strong and hardened people who live outside the best conditions and climate. The harsh Siberian winters, the lack of emergency medical care, constant physical labor made the Old Believers truly strong and responsible people.
Old Believers and Old Believers: some statistics
There are several main names for the Old Believer communities:
- Chapels
- Starikovshchina
- Nikolaev Bespopovtsy
- Kerzhaki
Old Believer settlements were seen in the Urals at the beginning of the 19th century. "Consent" among the Old Believers is usually called a large religious movement that unites all communities: priests and non-priests. Priestly communities are communities that have priests and have their own hierarchy. Accordingly, based on the very name "bespriests" means that such communities did not have their own clergy. Among the bespopovtsy, the head of the family (husband) himself took care of the religious enlightenment of his family. For example, unlike other settlements, the Chapel Society accepted fugitive clergy into its communities. They did not cross them, but simply performed a simple ceremony. By the beginning of the 19th century, the Chasovnoye community began to be referred to as Bespopovskoe. In this society, such a type of rite of baptism was practiced as baptism with repeated full immersions of the body of a person who underwent this ritual.
There were more Bespopov communities of Old Believers than priests, with a ratio of 3:1. Among the non-priest communities, one can name such as: Pastukhovo, Lyubushkino, Filippovsky consent and others. Priestly consents: Novoblessed, Novozybkovskoye, Suslovskoye and others. Look at the drawing.
After brutal reprisals and persecution, the Old Believers, saving their lives, fled deep into Siberia and other countries. The consent of the Old Believers was noted in many regions of Russia: Altai, Altai Territory, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Kemerovo Region, Tomsk Region, Far East, Khabarovsk Territory, Primorsky Territory, Amur Region. In other countries: Brazil, the USA (Oregon, Alaska) there were also Old Believers who fled because of persecution and persecution for their faith in Russia. The Old Believers number about 25 communities (not to be confused with a settlement, since one community could include several dozen settlements). The total number of Old Believers and Old Believers in Russia alone numbered about two million people (2,000,000).
Old Believers and Old Believers: differences from the Orthodox
- Old Believers baptize themselves with two fingers folded together instead of three.
- Baptism occurs with the help of complete immersion in water, and not by pouring water from a ladle.
- Rare use of the eight-pointed Crucifix. The four-pronged Crucifixion is not fully applied. Old Believers prefer a simple four-pointed cross.
- The Old Believers in their scriptures recorded the name Jesus with one letter "I", without a new addition of the second letter Jesus.
- Old Believers prefer unison and monodic singing of prayers. The following types of singing are unacceptable for them: partes, operatic, chromotic.
- Services to God are carried out according to the ancient scripture "Church Eye", which corresponds to the Jerusalem liturgical charter.
- Full performance of songs of canons and prayers.
- Practically no akathists and other later prayer compositions are used.
- The service of the Great Lent Passion is not going on.
- The Old Believers have initial and initial bows, which were removed after the reform of Patriarch Nikon.
- For Old Believers in services, everything should happen synchronously: simultaneous bows, baptism, prayers in voice, and so on.
- Holy water is the water that is consecrated on the birthday of Jesus Christ or on the day of his baptism.
- The procession of the Old Believers goes in the direction of the sun, that is, clockwise.
- More preferable presence at the services and prayers of Christians in traditional Russian outfits: caftan, sundress, kosovorot, etc.
- Also, the Old Believers use the Old Slavonic spelling of some words. For example, David - Davyd, Eve - Evva, Jerusalem - Jerusalem and the like.
- Old Believers in their prayers say the word Hallelujah (at the end or beginning of prayers) twice and then comes the phrase "glory to you God." If you translate the word "Hallelujah", then it will literally mean "glory to you God." In the modern church, the word Hallelujah is pronounced three times in a row: "Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, glory to Thee, God." Thus they affirm the glory of the Holy Trinity. But the Old Believers make the remark that the third word hallelujah is already superfluous, since "glory to you God" is the third hallelujah and the veneration of the Holy Trinity.
(OLD BELIEVERS)- the general name of the followers of religious movements in Russia, which stood out as a result of church reforms carried out by Patriarch Nikon (1605-1681). S. did not accept Nikon's "innovations" (correction of liturgical books, changes in rituals), interpreting them as antichrist. Sami themselves preferred to call themselves "Old Believers", emphasizing the antiquity of their faith and its difference from the new faith, which they considered heretical.
Archpriest Avvakum (1620 or 1621-1682) was at the head of the church. After the condemnation at the church council of 1666-1667. Avvakum was exiled to Pustozersk, where 15 years later he was burnt by royal decree. S. began to be subjected to severe persecution by ecclesiastical and secular authorities. Self-immolation of the Old Believers began, which often took on a mass character.
At the end of the XVII century. S. divided into priests And bespopovtsy. The next step was the division into numerous agreements and interpretations. In the XVIII century. many S. were forced to flee outside of Russia, fleeing persecution. This situation was changed by the decree issued in 1762 and allowing the Old Believers to return to their homeland. From the end of the XVIII century. two main centers of Old Believer communities stood out - Moscow, wherebespopovtsylived on the territory adjacent to the Preobrazhensky cemetery, andpriests- to the Rogozhsky cemetery, and Petersburg. At the end of the XIX century. The main Old Believer centers of Russia were Moscow, p. Guslitsy (Moscow region) and the Volga region.
In the first half of the XIX century. increased pressure on the Old Believers. In 1862Belokrinitskaya hierarchycondemned the idea of the accession of the Antichrist in her "District Epistle".
During the years of Soviet power, S. continued to be persecuted. Only in 1971 was the anathema lifted from the Old Believers by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. At present, there are S. communities in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the Baltic countries, South America, Canada, and others.
Literature:
Molzinsky V.V. Old Believer movement in the second half of the 17th century. in Russian scientific and historical literature. SPb., 1997; Ershova O. P. Old Believers and power. M, 1999; Melnikov F. E. 1) Modern requests to the Old Believers. M., 1999; 2) A Brief History of the Old Orthodox (Old Believer) Church. Barnaul, 1999.
In recent years, our country has been growing interest in antiquity. Many both secular and church authors publish materials on the spiritual and cultural heritage, history and modern day of the Old Believers. However, the phenomenon of the Old Believers, his philosophy, worldview and peculiarities of terminology are still poorly studied. On the semantic meaning of the term " old believers"read in the article" What is Old Believers?».
Schismatics or Old Believers?
This was done because the Old Russian Old Believer church traditions, which existed in Russia for almost 700 years, were recognized as non-Orthodox, schismatic and heretical at the New Believer councils of 1656, 1666-1667. By itself, the term old believers” arose out of necessity. The fact is that the Synodal Church, its missionaries and theologians called the supporters of pre-schism, pre-Nikonian Orthodoxy nothing more than schismatics and heretics.
In fact, such a great Russian ascetic as Sergius of Radonezh was recognized as non-Orthodox, which caused a clear deep protest among believers.
The Synodal Church took this position as the main one and used it, explaining that the supporters of all Old Believer accords without exception fell away from the “true” Church because of their firm unwillingness to accept the church reform, which he began to put into practice. Patriarch Nikon and continued to varying degrees by his followers, including the emperor Peter I.
On this basis, all those who do not accept the reforms were called schismatics, shifting on them the responsibility for the split of the Russian Church, for the alleged separation from Orthodoxy. Until the beginning of the 20th century, in all the polemical literature published by the dominant church, Christians professing pre-schism church traditions were called "schismatics", and the very spiritual movement of the Russian people in defense of paternal church customs was called "schism".
This and other even more offensive terms were used not only to denounce or humiliate the Old Believers, but also to justify persecution, mass repressions against supporters of ancient Russian church piety. In the book "Spiritual Sling", published with the blessing of the New Believer Synod, it was said:
“The schismatics are not the sons of the Church, but the real prostitutes. They are worthy of the tradition of life to the punishment of the city court ... worthy of any punishment and wounds.
And for not healing, and mortal murder ".
In Old Believer literatureXVII - the first half of the XIX century, the term "Old Believer" was not used
And most of the Russian people, unwittingly, began to be called insulting, turning upside down the essence of the Old Believers, term. At the same time, internally disagreeing with this, believers - supporters of pre-schism Orthodoxy - sincerely sought to achieve that they were officially called differently.
For self-identification, they took the term " Old Orthodox Christians”- hence the naming of each Old Believer consent of their Church: Old Orthodox. The terms "orthodoxy" and "true Orthodoxy" were also used. In the writings of the Old Believers of the 19th century, the term " true orthodox church».
It is important that among believers "in the old way" the term "Old Believers" was not used for a long time because the believers themselves did not call themselves that. In church documents, correspondence, everyday communication, they preferred to call themselves "Christians", sometimes "Old Believers". The term " old believers”, legalized by secular liberal and Slavophile authors in the second half of the 19th century, was considered not quite correct. The meaning of the term "Old Believers" as such indicated the purely primacy of rituals, while in reality the Old Believers believed that the Old Faith was not only old rites, but also a set of church dogmas, worldview truths, special traditions of spirituality, culture and life.
Changing attitudes towards the term "Old Believers" in society
However, by the end of the 19th century, the situation in society and the Russian Empire began to change. The government began to pay more attention to the needs and demands of the ancient Orthodox Christians, a certain general term was needed for a civilized dialogue, regulations and legislation.
For this reason, the terms old believers”, “Old Believers” is becoming more widespread. At the same time, the Old Believers of various accords mutually denied each other's Orthodoxy and, strictly speaking, for them the term "Old Believers" united religious communities, devoid of church and religious unity, on a secondary ritual basis. For the Old Believers, the internal inconsistency of this term consisted in the fact that, using it, they united in one concept the truly Orthodox Church (i.e., their own Old Believer agreement) with heretics (i.e., Old Believers of other agreements).
Nevertheless, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Old Believers positively perceived that in the official press the terms “schismatics” and “schismatic” began to be gradually replaced by “Old Believers” and “Old Believers”. The new terminology did not have a negative connotation, and therefore Old Believer consents began to actively use it in the public and public sphere.
The word "Old Believers" is accepted not only by believers. Secular and Old Believer publicists and writers, public and state figures are increasingly using it in literature and official documents. At the same time, conservative representatives of the synodal church in pre-revolutionary times continue to insist that the term "Old Believers" is incorrect.
"Recognizing Existence" old believers", - they said, - we will have to admit the existence of " New Believers", that is, to admit that the official church uses not ancient, but newly invented rites and rites."
According to the New Believer missionaries, such self-disclosure could not be allowed in any way.
And yet, the words “Old Believers”, “Old Believers” over time became more and more firmly rooted in literature and in everyday speech, displacing the term “schismatics” from the colloquial circulation of the vast majority of supporters of “official” Orthodoxy.
Old Believers, Synodal Theologians and Secular Scholars on the Term "Old Believers"
Reflecting on the concept of "Old Believers", writers, theologians and publicists gave different assessments. Until now, the authors cannot come to a single opinion.
It is no coincidence that even in the popular book, the dictionary “Old Believers. Persons, Objects, Events and Symbols” (M., 1996), published by the publishing house of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, there is no separate article “Old Believers” that would explain the essence of this phenomenon in Russian history. The only thing that is only noted here is that this is “a complex phenomenon that unites under one name both the true Church of Christ and the darkness of delusions.”
The perception of the term “Old Believers” is significantly complicated by the presence among the Old Believers of divisions into “consent” ( Old Believer churches), which are divided into supporters of a hierarchical structure with Old Believer priests and bishops (hence the naming: priests - Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, Russian Old Orthodox Church) and on those who do not accept priests and bishops - priestless ( Old Orthodox Pomeranian Church,chapel consent, runners (wanderer's consent), Fedoseev's consent).
Old Believers—bearers of the old faith
Some Old Believer authors believe that not only the difference in rituals separates the Old Believers from the New Believers and other faiths. There are, for example, some dogmatic differences in relation to church sacraments, deep cultural differences in relation to church singing, icon painting, church canonical differences in church administration, holding councils, and in relation to church rules. Such authors argue that the Old Believers contain not only old rites, but also Old Faith.
Therefore, such authors argue, it is more convenient and more correct from the point of view of common sense to use the term "old belief”, which implicitly implies everything that is the only true one for those who accepted pre-schism Orthodoxy. It is noteworthy that initially the term "Old Belief" was actively used by supporters of the non-priest Old Believer concords. Over time, he took root in other accords.
Today, representatives of the New Believer churches very rarely call the Old Believers schismatics, the term "Old Believer" has taken root both in official documents and church journalism. However, the New Believer authors insist that the meaning of the Old Believers lies in the exclusive adherence to the old rites. Unlike pre-revolutionary Synodal authors, theologians of the Russian Orthodox Church and other New Believer churches do not see any danger in using the terms "Old Believers" and "New Believers". In their opinion, the age or the truth of the origin of this or that rite does not matter.
The Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1971 recognized old and new rites absolutely equal, equal and equal. Thus, in the ROC, the form of the rite is now given secondary importance. At the same time, the New Believer authors continue to instruct that the Old Believers, the Old Believers, are part of the believers, seceded from the Russian Orthodox Church, and therefore from all Orthodoxy, after the reforms of Patriarch Nikon.
What is Old Believers?
So what is the meaning of the term old believers» is most acceptable today both for the Old Believers themselves and for secular society, including scientists who study the history and culture of the Old Believers and the life of modern Old Believer churches?
So, firstly, since at the time of the church schism of the 17th century, the Old Believers did not introduce any innovations, but remained faithful to the ancient Orthodox church tradition, they cannot be called “separated” from Orthodoxy. They didn't go anywhere. On the contrary, they advocated Orthodox traditions in their unchanged form and abandoned reforms and innovations.
Secondly, the Old Believers were a significant group of believers of the Old Russian Church, consisting of both laity and clergy.
And, thirdly, despite the divisions within the Old Believers, which occurred due to severe persecution and the impossibility for centuries to organize a full-fledged church life, the Old Believers retained common tribal church and social characteristics.
With this in mind, the following definition can be proposed:
OLD RITE (or OLD BELIEF)- this is the general name of the Russian Orthodox clergy and laity, striving to preserve the church institutions and traditions of the ancient Russian Orthodox Church andrefusedaccept the reform undertaken inXVIIcentury by Patriarch Nikon and continued by his followers, up to PeterIinclusive.
The material is taken from here: http://ruvera.ru/staroobryadchestvo
Old Believers and Old Believers - how often these concepts are confused. They were confused before during conversations, they are confused today, even in the media. Every educated person who respects the culture of his people is simply obliged to understand what is the difference between these two different categories of people.
Old Believers are people who adhere to the old Christian rites. During the reign of A.M. Romanov, under the leadership of Patriarch Nikon, a religious reform was carried out. Those who refused to obey the new rules united and they immediately began to be called schismatics, as they, as it were, split the Christian faith into the old and the new. In 1905 they began to be called Old Believers. The Old Believers became widespread in Siberia. 
The main differences between the new and old rites are:
- The Old Believers write the name of Jesus, as before, with a small letter and one "and" (Jesus).
- The three-fingered sign introduced by Nikon is not recognized by them, and therefore they are still baptized with two fingers.
- Baptism takes place according to the tradition of the old Church - immersively, because that is how they were baptized in Russia.
- During the reading of the prayer according to the old rites, clothes specially designed for this are used.
The Old Believers are people not of the Christian faith, they are those who adhere to the one that was in Russia before it. They are the true guardians of the faith of their ancestors. 
Their worldview is Rodnoverie. The Slavic Native Faith has existed since the very first tribes of the Slavs began to appear. That is what the Old Believers keep. The Old Believers believe that no one has a monopoly on the truth, namely, all religions claim it. Each nation has its own faith and each is free to communicate with God, as he sees fit and in the language that he considers correct.
According to the Native Faith, a person creates his own understanding of the world through his worldview. A person is not obliged to accept as faith someone's idea of the world. For example, tell someone: we are all sinners, the name of God is exactly that and you need to address him like this.
Differences
Indeed, they often try to attribute one worldview to Old Believers and Old Believers, despite the fact that there are huge differences between them. These confusions are created by people who do not know Russian terminology and interpret definitions in their own way.
The Old Believers primordially believe in their own Kin, and at the same time do not belong to any religion. The Old Believers adhere to the Christian religion, but the one that was before the reform. In some ways, they can even be called a kind of Christians.
It's easy to tell them apart:
- The Old Believers do not have prayers. They believe that prayer humiliates both the one to whom it is addressed and the one who performs it. There are their own rites among the genus, but they are known only to a particular genus. The Old Believers pray, their prayers are similar to those that can be heard in Orthodox churches, but they are performed in a special attire and end with the fact that they are baptized according to the old rites with two fingers.
- The rituals of the Old Believers and their ideas about good, evil, way of life are not written anywhere. They are passed on by word of mouth. They may be written down, but these records are kept secret by each clan. Old Believer religious writings constitute the first Christian books. 10 commandments, bible, old testament. They are in the public domain and knowledge is transferred freely, not based on ancestral ties.
- The Old Believers have no icons. Instead, their house is full of photographs of their ancestors, their letters, awards. They honor their family, remember it and are proud of it. The Old Believers also do not have icons. Although they adhere to the Christian faith, their churches are not filled with imposing iconostases, there are no icons even in the traditional "red corner". Instead, in churches, they make holes in the form of holes, since they believe that God is not in icons, but in heaven.
- The Old Believers have no idolatry. Traditionally, in religion there is a main living element that is worshiped and called God, his son or prophet. For example, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammed. Rodnovery praises only the surrounding nature, but not considering it a deity, but considering itself a part of it. The Old Believers praise Jesus, the biblical hero.
- In the Native Faith of the Old Believers, there are no specific rules that must be followed. Each person is free to live in harmony with his conscience. It is not necessary to participate in some rituals, wear robes and follow one consensus. Things are different with the Old Believers, because they have a well-defined hierarchy, a set of rules and clothes.
Is there anything in common?
Old Believers and Old Believers, despite their different Faith, have something in common. First, they were connected by history itself. When the Old Believers, or as the schismatics of the Russian Orthodox Church then said, began to be persecuted, and it was just in the time of Nikon, they went to the Siberian Belovodie and Pomorie. The Old Believers lived there and gave them shelter. Of course, they had different faiths, but nevertheless, they were all Russians by blood and tried not to let it be taken away from them.
