True Russian Orthodox Church

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Not to be confused with Russian True Orthodox Church.

The True Russian Orthodox Church (Russian: настоящей Русской православной церковью) is a Russian religious group founded by Pyotr Kuznetsov. It is an apparent sect or dissenting faction of the Russian Orthodox Church. Its members reject processed food and consider bar codes satanic symbols.^[1]

In November 2007, between 29-35 members^[2]^[3] of the group holed themselves up in a cave in Russia's Penza region, threatening mass suicide if authorities tried to intervene. Kuznetsov had told them to hide themselves away to await the end of the world, which he predicted would take place in May 2008. Kuznetsov himself was not with the group, but had been placed under police arrest.^[3]^[4]

On March 28, 2008, seven women who had holed up in a cave for months were being treated by emergency workers, regional officials said.^[5] Three days later 14 members emerged from the cave after melting snow caused part of the cave to collapse.^[2]

On April 3, 2008 Kuznetsov was taken to a hospital where "Officials said that he may have attempted suicide after realising his prediction had been wrong."^[1]

On May 16, 2008 the last nine members of the cult emerged from the bunker due to the toxic fumes produced by two cult members who had died over winter.^[6]