History Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church

pomorian lestovka

the pomorian soglasiye (Согласие, means creed or confession ) group of bespopovtsy ( priestless ) old believers, abandoned practice of receiving runaway priests after death of last pre-raskol (schism) priests of russian orthodox church. in absence of priesthood, began elect literate laity conduct services.

the pomorian creed formed in 1694, when vygovsky men’s monastery (vygovsky obschezhitelstvo) founded in pomorye vyg river, became spiritual center entire creed 17th middle 19th century ideological center priestless old believers. on basis of solovetsky monastery rules, pomorian service rules laity created without words, given priests.

in 1706, leksinskiy female monastery founded. vygovsky monastery famous compiling “pomorian answers,” became basis of religious doctrine. in 1738, pomorians had started praying tsar. provoked split in community. have not accepted praying czar (моление за царя) during services, formed filippovskiy (who practiced self-immolation) , fedoseevtsy agreements. these subsequent groups experienced additional divisions , splits later on.

initially pomortsy denied sanctity of marriage. however, in 1830s, pomorian community became divided on issue staropomortsy (old-pomorians), continued deny sanctity of marriage, , novopomortsy (new-pomorians), allowed transfer of property inheritance , legalized marital relations outside church marriage. novopomortsy attracted members other old believer groups disgruntled strict attitude towards marriage.

the official church registered government church organization after freedom of religion manifesto publication on april 17, 1905. first all-russian pomorian council held may 1–10, 1909, in moscow, second in 1912. local communities of pomorians became important economic centers of northern russia in 19th century.

after revolution of 1917, pomorians outside of russia have formed organizational centers in countries of residence.