Bezpopovtsy

Bespopovtsy (Russian: Безпоповцы; IPA: [bʲɪspɐˈpoft͡sɨ], "priestless ones") are Priestless Old Believers that reject Nikonian priests. They are one of the two major strains of Old Believers.

Priestless Old Believers were Russia's first Spiritual Christians and have since divided into various and diverse sects including: Pomortsy, Fedoseyans, Filippians, Beguny ("Runners"), Netovtsy/Netovshchina, and many others. Some reject priests and a number of church rites, such as the Eucharist believing that any priest or hierarch who has used the Nikonian Rites has forfeited apostolic succession. Others still believe in the existence of a Priesthood; but happen to find themselves without priests. Many such sects have historically received Nikonian priests that have publicly repented from the reforms of Patriarch Nikon.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.