Old Believers: Russian Church reforms of the 17th century

The reforms of Patriarch Nikon in the middle of the 17th century in Russia, started many processes that are still ongoing up until today. While the core of the reforms was liturgical, how to pray, they had a deep social and ideological layer to them as well. These reforms led to a schism in the Russian Orthodox Church that remains largely unhealed up until modern times. The consequences of the schism were enormous. They prompted the emergence of what is today usually known as “Old Believers”, a large and diverse group of Christians that reject these reforms. Some historians say that as much as 20% of the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church found themselves in schism, now as Old Believers. 

The main goal of the course is to provide an objective and critical overview of the reforms of Patriarch Nikon as well as their historical, socio-political and religious contexts. Likewise, an overview of the consequences of the reforms will be made. A deeper examination will be applied to the events of the reforms and its key people, reformers and opponents. The emergence of the Old Believers in the decades following the reforms will be examined, as well as a general overview of the various Old Believers groups today, so-called priestly and priestless.