Facts of the presence of religious groups with signs of mystical sectarianism in the Altai countryside in the late XIX — early XX centuries based

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to study the activity of religious groups with signs of mystical sectarianism in rural areas of Altai at the turn of XIX-XX centuries. The main sources for the article are diocesan publications (missionary notes), which have a biased, subjective nature, but contribute to the formation of a superficial picture of the history and functioning of mystical sects. The fact of assignment to mystical sects by the spiritual authorities was carried out according to conditional signs based on the facts of avoiding direct contact and hidden lifestyle without a detailed study of the forms of cult activity and religious ideology. The social environment of peasant migrants was the main supplier to Siberia of religious communities with signs of mystical sectarianism. Many religious activities and practices of religious groups classified as "khlysts' were identified by diocesan authorities with Old Believer ceremonies. At the same time, the "radenia" as the main attribute of "khlystov" by priests and missionaries in rural areas of the Altai during the mentioned period have not been proven. The assignment of religious groups to the "skoptsy" sect was mainly based on the discovery of physiological signs of rite ("oskoplenie")