Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XIV. Older Russian Sects
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has been proofread at least once.
(diff)
(history)
Denna sida har korrekturlästs minst en gång.
(skillnad)
(historik)
years he occupied a cave near the river Volga, and busied
himself in prayer and reading holy books. But finally he stuffed
all his books into a sack and threw it in the stream, declaring
that “revelations come from the living God alone.” This
Danilo Filipovitch is said to have received the “indwelling of
the Lord of Hosts” at a public meeting, while surrounded by
his followers. Now his adherents are found in all parts of the
empire, in the larger towns and many of the provinces. They
call themselves “Christi,” or Christs, for reasons that will be
seen below, but the Orthodox call them in parody “Chlisti,” or
Flagellators, because this forms part of their religious
exercise.
The distinctive doctrine of this sect is that the Godhead
dwells, either latent or active, in every man. In fact, man,
made in the image of God, is the only being we can see or
imagine. This is, of coarse, closely connected with the Biblical
account of the Divine Incarnation in Jesus Christ. According
to the Chlisti Jesus was just a man like ourselves, but by His
self-sacrifice and holiness He gave scope in His life for the
indwelling and actualisation of the innate Deity and became God.
This development is possible for every one. “Every man can
become a Christ, and every woman a Holy Virgin.” It simply
depends on the quality and degree of our faith, our self-denial,
and consequent spiritual ecstasy. When through hysteric
leaping and dancing the ecstasy reaches its height, the Holy
Spirit descends on men and transforms them into God-men.
The practical instructions given by Filipovitch to his disciples
were of the following kind:—
“Young men, drink no intoxicants, neither marry.
Married men, live with your wives as with sisters.
Avoid all unrighteousness, live in peace with each other.
Carefully conceal your tenets and do not betray them even under the knout, fire, or axe.”
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
