Castration and the heavenly kingdom
Subtitle: a Russian folktale
By: Laura Engelstein.
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Ithaca, N.Y
Language: eng
Number of pages: 283
Subjects: Skoptsy -- History
Description: "Of the many sects that broke from the official Russian Orthodox church in the eighteenth century, one was universally despised. Its members were peasants from the Russian heartland skilled in the arts of animal husbandry who turned their knives on themselves to become "eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake.""--BOOK JACKET.

"In a feat of historical reconstruction, Laura Engelstein tells the sect's astonishing tale. She describes the horrified reactions to the sect by outsiders, including outraged bureaucrats, physicians, and theologians. More important, she allows the Skoptsy a say in defining the contours of their history and the meaning behind their sacrifice."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p.         237-275) and index.