Sunday, August 2, 2009

Rejecting Naturalization Antichrist Seal

The 1953 New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. X we see on page 123 the following:

“From the Filipovtzi [Old Believers], toward the end of the eighteenth century, arose the ‘Pilgrims’ (Stranniki) or ‘Fugitives’ (Bye-guny), who, in conformity with Matt. x. 37-38, forsook their homes and families, rejected legal [that is State sponsored] marriage and the certificate of naturalization with the seal of the ‘Antichrist,’ and ate no food from the vessels of strangers. A sub-sect of the Pilgrims intentionally postponed their vow of wandering until toward the end of their lives, but occupied a less honored position.”