Thoughts on Russian Old Believers?
It's an interesting topic, I've been trying to find some more information about orthodoxy, besides that it's "trad and based". What I know that they have some specific disagreements when it comes to some specifics. From my perspective (Russian Orthodox) They are kinda like Amish people, but idk
>>18222058The short version is that patriarch Nikon wanted to be more authentic and so imported Greek works. Unfortunately these works turned out to actually be further from the originals than the books the Russians were using, but Nikon was very politically powerful at the time and pushed it through. This caused a massive shitload of revolts and rebellions and solid banditry, and some bdsm cults too. It was declared universally binding and effective immediately rather than being snuck in. So the old believers legged it and became a weird collective pushed to the very edges of society who tended to living in isolated villages. Peter was pushing modernisation at the time and used it to try and change Russian culture. He saw the change as a modernisation vehicle and a more authentic faith (because Nikon told him so). So his changes to culture and practices were also hated and the OB folded in people who didn't like the new ways, giving them more longevity and creating a unique culture. They still exist today, actually. Most of the theological differences matter to priests more than laity. I don't understand them myself, mostly that they use two fingers to cross themselves and a service takes hours. The Lestovka is weird, but I'm not a hundred percent on how it's used. I like the appearance though. It's a strange thing, arising post deromanisation of the Orthodox but also hearkening back to it.Roy Robson wrote a two good books on them in the modern day.
>>18221679>The Russian Church decides to change the aesthetics to match those of the contemporary Greek Church>AAAH IT'S LITERALLY SATANIC, THE ANTICHRIST HAS COME! I MUST BURN MYSELF ALIVE WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY!
>>18221679The entire drama was about using two or three fingers for blessing, That's literally all that mattered to common folk.
>>18221679They were literally correct (originally, obviously they went off the deep end after that). Most of their disputes were about pedantic ritualistic nonsense, but they were correct in that. >>18222330You may not like it. But this is what true faith looks like.
>>18221679least interesting sectarians
>>18222330imagine how much better of a place the world would be if all russians followed suit
>>18222095They have a podruchnik pillow when they do prostrations.
>>18222555>three fingersGuess who crosses oneself with a fig...
>>18222095There are two types of Old Believers, the Priested and the Priestless. The Priested basically practice Russian Orthodoxy are it was practiced prior to the 1653 Nikon reforms, while the Priestless are split into a variety of different sects. While the Priestless continue to pray and venerate icons, since they do not have clergy, they do not practice any sacraments except for baptism and marriage. Their communities are generally presided over by non-ordained elders who keep the traditions alive and some of the more radical ones believe that the Russian Orthodox Church as it currently stands is the Church of the antichrist and that we are living in the end times.
>>18222095>>18223529Here is an image of a Priestless Old Believer chapel and a practitioner (Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church).
