The opinion of St. Theophan, the Recluse, on Belokrinitskaya and Coreligionists Hierarchy

Abstract

The article analyses the views of St. Theophan, the Recluse (1815-1894), the famous theologian and spiritual writer of the 19th century, on the Belokrinitskaya Hierarchy, which stemmed in 1846 from the Metropolitan Ambrose (Georgiopoli). St. Theophan considered that the Belokrinitskaya Hierarchy is devoid of grace. Like many bishops, St. Theophan considered the ‘edinoverie’ (coreligionism) as a step in the conversion to Orthodox Christian and as a way to salvation. The attitude of St. Theophan to the old believers is fully in line with Church tradition and is characterized by integrity and comprehensiveness of the analysis, as well as active personal acquaintance with those problems about which he wrote.

Keywords

• St. Theophan the Recluse
• old belief
• schism
• Belokrinitskaya Hierarchy
• ‘edinoverie’ (coreligionism)