Bezpopovtsy sect

The Bezpopovtsy are a group of Russian religious dissenters, also known as Old Believers, who rejected the liturgical reforms of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century. The term "Bezpopovtsy" translates to "priestless sects". Unlike other Old Believers, they do not have ordained priests and forgo most sacraments, with the exception of Baptism.12

These sects emerged from a broader movement of dissent against Patriarch Nikon's reforms, which aimed to align Russian Orthodox practices with those of the Greek Church. The Bezpopovtsy, along with other Old Believers, often resisted Western innovations and were sometimes viewed as Antichrist. Despite facing persecution, many Bezpopovtsy groups survived and were officially recognized by the Soviet state.1