The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-06
CURIOUS RELIGIONS IN RU ,sTI
Mine Millions OF "scnl.mat,o.y-v,
They Believe.

Nine Millions OF s'schismattcs,, vvto,
They Believe.
Inc Russian schismatics are divided into
two sections-the Bezpopoitsi, who do not as.
knowleoge priesthood, aud the Popoftsi
WY nave preserved kind of clerical hier-
sIony: The subdivisions Of these classes are
described by Russian writer, whose nom de
plume is Schedo-Ferrot. This able writer
divides the Bezpopoftsi into at least thirty
seven distinct sects, and one of the principal
DIVISIONS Is that of the Kapitones.
THE KAPIToNKs.
The kapitones, so called after the monk
kapitons live only on bread, fruit, vegeta-
bles, and wild berries, and are renowned
throughout Russia for the austerity of their
lives and the severity OF their voluntary pri-
vations. They consider suicide as the most
meritofious action that true believer can
commit. AT their holest ceremonies young
girl, dressed in the brightest colors, is con-
cealed In the cellar Of the house in which the
meeting Is held, and as soon as all is ready
and the faithful are assembled she comes out
OF her hiding place, and enters into the cham
ber set apart as a sanctuary, clothed in white
sheet and holding basket of raisins on her
head. She then utters q kind of invocation,
or rather pronounces blessing three times,
and distributes raisin to each individual
present, who, looking upon 1t as viatioum
that will insure salvation, have in numerous
mediately upon leaving the room.
ANTICHRIsT.
Next come the Siberian Bezpopofts, who
maintain that Antiohrist has already come,
and reigns over the Russian Church. These
also recommend suicide by fire, and Schedo-
Perroh relates how seventeen hundred of
the sect, including men, women, and children,
together with their leader, priest named
Domitian, shut themselves up in wooden
hnt druh cta IN,
had been heped up, set fire to the whole mass,
and perished mserably in the flames. How
ever, the date and place Of this frightful holo'
caust are not given.
The Pomoraenie g. e., dwellers on the sea
ooast) originated in the country between
Lakes Omega and Vyg, and on the desolate
shore of the White Sea. They believe that
though Antichrist reigns on earth, Jesus
Christ will soon come again; indeed, the pre-
else day of his second appearing has been
several times announced by their preachers,
whereupon the members Of the sect dig out
graves in the earth and lie in them awaiting
the blast OF the last trumpet, and though con-
tinuaiiy deceived are continually credulous.
They do not refuse to pray for the sovereign
as Gear, but reject the title Of Imperator, which
they say is an attribute of Antiohrist They
also are ready at any moment to pass through
the Immaculate baptism of fire."
THE THEoDosIANs.
The Theodosians form one of the wealthiest
and most numerous of all the subdivisions.
Their founder established colony in Poland,
but, driven thence, contrived to plant new as
sociations in Yaroslawl, Riga Moscow, Mimi,
Toula, Saratof, Kazan, and elsewhere; and in
177l, Kaveline, one of their number, founded
in the environs of Moscow the Preobrajensky
Kladbishtche Cor TRANSPORTATION Cemetery,
which in short time became the central
point and metropolis of all the Bezpopoftsi.
Kayeline ruled over this establishment thirty
eight years, and when he died left behind him
rich and powerful settlement, composed of
more than fifteen hundred persons, upon
whom were dependent upwards of ten thou
sand disciples living in and around the ancient
capital. The widespread renown Of the
influence, wealth, and strict discipline of this
monastery speedily caused all other commu-
mites of the same persuasion to regard it as
their centre: thence they procured their
teachers and thither every three years they
sent deputies to debate and determine ques-
tions of common interest. The tenets of this
sect do not greatly differ from those Of the
Pomoraenie with this trifing exception,
however, that the former hold that provisions
purchased at public market must be purified
before use. Ahundred poklons, i. e., rever-
ences accompanied by the sign of the cross,
are sufficient to effect this object, and then
the grace of God descends upon the meat
through holes made purposely in the lid of
the cooking pan.
THE 'sBURNRRs" AND "wANDERERs.n
The Filipoftsi take their name from Philip,
fanatical monk, who, with thirty eight OF
his adhersnts, burnt himself alive in presence
of the Imperial commissioners sent to visit and
report upon the sect. Similar examples OF
suicide are so common amongst them that the
people call them sojigatei, or burners. The
wanderers (stranniki) pretend that Antichrist is
incarnate in the person of the Emperors of
Russia, and therefore obedience to the secular
power is clearly the mark of the beast. To
escape perdition one must resist the Church,
the Czar, and all authority emanating from
him. As this opposition cannot be carried on
openly, the only course that remains to the
faithful is to flee before the servants OF Anti
christ, to break all family ties, uproot all re-
lationship with society, and roam about in
the lonely depths OF the forests and deserts.
The SIrapnoprimtsi (hospitable) are kind
Of complement Of the above sect, and have to
pass through noviciate. Their duty is to
receive the wanderers, hide them from the
police, sLelter and feed them, for which pur'
pose every cottage is provided with secret
underground chamber, discoverable only to
the initiated, SO that the homeless pilgrim
may enter, rest, and depart unobserved ever
by the owner. Any member of these secta
taken suddenly i'll has himself transported, il
possible, into field or wood, in order that be
may die en- fuite, and not under roof II the
neophyte possesses a passport, baptisma
register, written character, or certificate, OF
any paper serving to establish his identity, ht
must destroy it, and he himself bs rebaptizee
according to the ritual OF the scot. Marrilg'
a,xA lad IVNnVn ad uN