Personal Eschatology in the Old Believer Polemical Writings between 17th and 20th Centuries

Abstract

The article explores manuscripts written between 17th and 20th centuries about people being in the next world. These writings were used by the Old Believers of different denominations to polemicize with the representatives of authority and the established church; they were also the subject of disagreement within the Old Believer movement. Special attention is paid to the writings devoted to polemics on justifying suicide for the sake of faith, preserving ministerial hierarchy (the Popovtsy (“priested ones”) and the Bezpopovtsy (“priestless ones”) – movements in the Old Ritualism)), and remaining faithful to old covenants in everyday life.