dukhobortsy

2 definitions found

dukhobortsy - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Raskolnik \Ras*kol"nik\ (r[a^]s*k[o^]l"n[i^]k), n.; pl.
     Raskolniki (r[a^]s*k[o^]l"n[i^]k*[=e]) or Raskolniks.
     [Russ. raskol'nik dissenter, fr. raskol dissent.]
     The name applied by the Russian government to any subject of
     the Greek faith who dissents from the established church. The
     Raskolniki embrace many sects, whose common characteristic is
     a clinging to antique traditions, habits, and customs. The
     schism originated in 1667 in an ecclesiastical dispute as to
     the correctness of the translation of the religious books.
     The dissenters, who have been continually persecuted, are
     believed to number about 20,000,000, although the Holy Synod
     officially puts the number at about 2,000,000. They are
     officially divided into three groups according to the degree
     of their variance from orthodox beliefs and observances, as
     follows: I. "Most obnoxious." the
  
     Judaizers; the
  
     Molokane, who refuse to recognize civil authority or to
        take oaths; the
  
     Dukhobortsy, or
  
     Dukhobors, who are communistic, marry without ceremony, and
        believe that Christ was human, but that his soul reappears
        at intervals in living men; the
  
     Khlysty, who countenance anthropolatory, are ascetics,
        practice continual self-flagellation, and reject marriage;
        the
  
     Skoptsy, who practice castration; and a section of the
  
     Bezpopovtsy, or priestless sect, which disbelieve in
        prayers for the Czar and in marriage. II. "Obnoxious:" the
  
     Bezpopovtsy, who pray for the Czar and recognize marriage.
        III. "Least obnoxious:" the
  
     Popovtsy, who dissent from the orthodox church in minor
        points only. [Written also rascolnik.]
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

  Dukhobors \Du*kho*bors"\, Dukhobortsy \Du*kho*bor"tsy\, n. pl.
     [Russ. dukhobortsy spirit wrestlers; dukh spirit + bortsy
     wrestlers.]
     A Russian religious sect founded about the middle of the 18th
     century at Kharkov. They believe that Christ was wholly
     human, but that his soul reappears from time to time in
     mortals. They accept the Ten Commandments and the "useful"
     portions of the Bible, but deny the need of rulers, priests,
     or churches, and have no confessions, icons, or marriage
     ceremonies. They are communistic, opposed to any violence,
     and unwilling to use the labor of animals. Driven out of
     Russia proper, many have emigrated to Cyprus and Canada. See
     Raskolnik, below.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]