In our scientific reconnaissance we have repeatedly turned to the analysis of social and spiritual origins, features of the doctrine of religious association of the charismatic orientation of the Orthodox origin of the Leontians, the personality of Leontius, the activities of his followers. Again, the small work of the Archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Vasily Ostapchuk, entitled "The Life and Activity of Father Leonti", published in 500 in Rivne in 2006, forced us to turn to (...) the figure of Leonti, his teachings and activities. (shrink)

The phenomenon of Orthodox sectarianism is becoming increasingly important in the context of contemporary confessional changes in Ukraine. Until the 90s of the twentieth century. the social role of Orthodox sectarianism was determined primarily by the fact that its doctrine and practice represented an attempt to create an alternative to the existing order in society. In independent Ukraine, sectarian groups of Orthodox origin have legalized their activities.

Political, social and economic transformations that occurred in the state in the late 80's in the early 90's of XX century. significant impact on religious and church life. The Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" allowed religious organizations to free themselves from state interference in denominational affairs, and gave believers the opportunity to freely profess any of their faith. In the public consciousness, the prestige of denominational organizations has increased, religious political parties and movements have been (...) formed, and interest in the religion of previously indifferent people has been observed. The activities of religious organizations in various fields become more widespread: in spreading the doctrine, in education, culture, charity, socio-political spheres. (shrink)

The religious unification of true Orthodox Christians appeared in the late 1930s. within the realm of the Orthodox Church. Soviet sectarian and researcher F. Cherkavenko, who printed books under the name of Fedorenko, saw the cause of true Orthodox Christianity in the collapse of the communities of the true Orthodox Church in the 1940s. and in its wreckage the emergence of a new religious association - true Orthodox Christianity. We cannot agree with such a vision and argument for the emergence (...) of true Orthodox Christianity. History shows that the true Orthodox Church in the 1940s. has not broken up and is successfully operating to date. (shrink)

The notion of "Orthodox sectarianism" is much narrower than the concept of "religious sectarianism" and may mean a complete doctrine or individual religious ideas that have formed on the basis of the Orthodox cult. However, this concept causes the existence of a somewhat organized circle of like-minded people.

In the first decades of the XIX century. the territory of the Russian Empire from Western Europe is beginning to penetrate chiliastic ideas. The term "chiliism" refers to the well-known doctrine of the millennial kingdom of Icyca Christ on earth, dating to the first centuries of Christianity. The ideas of chilias became especially popular during the reign of Alexander I, who himself was sympathetic to the mystical-chiliatic teachings. Chilias in the Russian Empire spread in two ways. On the one hand, (...) chiliastic ideas penetrated with the works of German mystics of the late eighteenth - early twentieth centuries. On the other hand, in anticipation of the fast approaching of the millennial kingdom of Christ, the German cultists of the Hiliists moved large parties across southern Russia to the Caucasus, thereby facilitating the spread of their ideas. The religious formations of the Orthodox sectarianism of the chiliastic-eschatological orientation are represented by the Jehovah-Hlinists, the Ioannites, and the Malavans. (shrink)

The roots of charismatic doctrines go back to the distant past. Their basic ideas of direct spiritual communion with God, of so-called "spiritual enlightenment," were characteristic of ancient Montanism. Over time, these ideas and the cult associated with them passed through the doctrines of medieval hezichasts and religious entities such as Swans, convulsions, Quakers, Shekkers, Hristovers, Eunuchs, Scribes, and others. They are characterized by the belief that God, in the form of some invisible all-pervading spirit, can instill in any worthy (...) person. (shrink)

In the XVII-XVIII centuries. socio-political contradictions in the Russian empire led to the separation from orthodoxy of a number of communities, commonly known as "spiritual Christians," or the old Russian sectarianism. Declaring the doctrine of Orthodoxy authoritarian, they advocated the profession of faith "in the spirit and in the truth," for a spiritual interpretation of Scripture. All spiritual Christians are characterized by: the rejection of the Orthodox Church and the whole institute of the church hierarchy, the basic Orthodox dogmas, sacraments, (...) the cult of the saints, icons, as well as the belief in the incarnation of the Holy Spirit in living people, the "spiritual" baptism which is the teaching of the word of God, human self-communication with God. They declared the whole world spiritual, condemned luxury, preached severe asceticism. (shrink)